Final answer:
RNA polymerase III is responsible for transcribing 5S RNA, a component of the ribosome crucial to the process of translation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The RNA polymerase responsible for transcribing 5S RNA, which is a structural RNA found in ribosomes, is RNA polymerase III. This polymerase is located in the nucleus and transcribes various structural RNAs, including the 5S pre-rRNA, transfer pre-RNAs (pre-tRNAs), and small nuclear pre-RNAs (snRNAs). It operates by binding to an internal promoter within the transcribed sequence rather than upstream, an unusual feature compared to other RNA polymerases.