Single molecule analysis of RNA polymerase elongation reveals uniform kinetic behavior. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • By using single-molecule measurements, we demonstrate that the elongation kinetics of individual Escherichia coli RNA polymerase molecules are remarkably homogeneous. We find no evidence of distinct elongation states among RNA polymerases. Instead, the observed heterogeneity in transcription rates results from statistical variation in the frequency and duration of pausing. When transcribing a gene without strong pause sites, RNA polymerase molecules display transient pauses that are distributed randomly in both time and distance. Transitions between the active elongation mode and the paused state are instantaneous within the resolution of our measurements (<1 s). This elongation behavior is compared with that of a mutant RNA polymerase that pauses more frequently and elongates more slowly than wild type.

publication date

  • October 7, 2002

Research

keywords

  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC129709

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0037109057

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.212358999

PubMed ID

  • 12370445

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 99

issue

  • 21