RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II) is a crucial enzyme in eukaryotic cells responsible for transcribing protein-coding genes into mRNA and some non-coding RNAs. The function of RNAP II is to catalyze the transcription of DNA into RNA, which is a critical step in gene expression. The process of transcription can be divided into three stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. During initiation, RNAP II binds to the promoter region of a gene, assisted by various transcription factors, and begins to synthesize RNA. Elongation follows, where RNAP II moves along the DNA template, synthesizing the RNA chain. Termination occurs when RNAP II reaches a stop signal, releasing the newly synthesized RNA and disengaging from the DNA template. RNAP II plays a significant role in the regulation of transcription. It works in conjunction with a set of general transcription factors (GTFs), including TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH, to coordinate the transcription process. These factors dynamically associate with and dissociate from RNAP II to regulate the occurrence of transcription. RNAP II is also involved in the processing of mRNA, such as capping, splicing, and polyadenylation, through interactions with various factors during these modifications. Additionally, the CTD of RNAP II can undergo a series of modifications, such as phosphorylation, which provides a rapid pathway for plants to activate primary immune responses in the event of pathogen invasion.
中文
