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AliceD ♦
AliceD ♦
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Does RNA polymerase move around DNA or does DNA rotate benathbeneath the polymerase?

I'm thinking of the human genome specficallyspecifically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unwound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

Does RNA polymerase move around DNA or does DNA rotate benath the polymerase?

I'm thinking of the human genome specfically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unwound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

Does RNA polymerase move around DNA or does DNA rotate beneath the polymerase?

I'm thinking of the human genome specifically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unwound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

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Dave Gerrard
Dave Gerrard
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I'm thinking of the human genome specfically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unowoundunwound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

I'm thinking of the human genome specfically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unowound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

I'm thinking of the human genome specfically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unwound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?

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Dave Gerrard
Dave Gerrard
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  • 11

Does RNA polymerase move around DNA or does DNA rotate benath the polymerase?

I'm thinking of the human genome specfically, but more general answers are welcome.

As RNA polymerase moves along the DNA helix it follows a single strand. The two DNA strands are unowound locally by a helicase enzyme. However, after some distance, I imagine that either the polymerase must move around the axis of the DNA OR the DNA must somehow be rotated along it's length to relieve the twisting by the polymerase.

I can't quite understand how the DNA is free to rotate, being part of a very long molecule. However the other option is also causing me a problem: the growing (nascent) mRNA can be tens of thousands of bases long while still attached to the RNA polymerase and the DNA template. If the RNA polymerase follows the helix of the DNA, does it also drag the full transcript around with it?