Final answer:
In eukaryotes, RNA polymerase requires transcription factors to bind to the promoter region and recruit the appropriate polymerase. The promoter region contains a conserved TATA box, which helps to unwind DNA for transcription. Specific transcription factors like TBP and TFIID bind to the TATA box and recruit RNA polymerase for transcription initiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In eukaryotes, the RNA polymerase requires several other proteins, called transcription factors, to bind to the promoter region and recruit the appropriate polymerase. Unlike prokaryotic polymerase, eukaryotic polymerase cannot bind to the DNA template on its own.
The promoter region in eukaryotes contains a TATA box, which is a sequence conserved among eukaryotes and located at approximately -30 bases relative to the initiation site. This TATA box helps to locally unwind DNA in preparation for transcription.
Transcription factors, including TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TFIID (transcription initiation factor IID), first bind to the TATA box and recruit RNA polymerase for transcription initiation.