Question

Use this representation to answer the following question.

DNA template strand 5' ____________________________ 3'
DNA complementary strand 3' ____________________________ 5'


Given the locally unwound double strand above, in which direction does the RNA polymerase move?
A. 5' → 3' along the template strand
B. 5' → 3' along the double-stranded DNA
C. 5' → 3' along the complementary strand
D. 3' → 5' along the complementary strand
E. 3' → 5' along the template strand

Answer 1

The RNA polymerase moves in the 5' to 3' direction along the template strand during the process of transcription.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the locally unwound double strand of DNA, the RNA polymerase moves in the 5' to 3' direction along the template strand. This mechanism of transcription ensures that the RNA strand is synthesized correctly. Since the DNA template strand is oriented in the 3' to 5' direction, RNA polymerase must move along it in the opposite direction. RNA polymerase unwinds the DNA double helix, reads the DNA template strand, and synthesizes mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction, before the DNA rewinds behind it. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that the RNA polymerase moves in the 5' to 3' direction along the template strand.