Question

An in vitro transcription system that contains a bacterial gene does not initiate transcription. what is one possible problem?

a. histones that were on the dna when it was isolated from

e. coli are blocking access to the template.

b. tata-binding protein (tbp) has not been added.

c. there is a mutation in the inverted repeat sequence that prevents a hairpin secondary structure from forming.

d. there is a mutation at –10, where a promoter consensus sequence is located.

e. rho factor has not been added.

Answer 1

The right answer is D.

Transcription in prokaryotes is simpler than transcription in prokaryotes. It does not need a hairpin structure to initiate transcription (it is rather for termination).

The rho factor is a termination factor.

TBP does not exist in prokaryotes, although it has a TATA box which is an important structure for initiation. TBP exists only in eukaryotes. Sigma factor replaces TBP in prokaryotes.

Mostly, bacteria do not have histones.