Question

What happens when the 5' terminal region of the RNA is degraded, and then the now-exposed 3' end is used as a 'jumping point' for the reverse transcriptase to hop onto another template, aside from allowing synthesis of the minus DNA to continue?

Answer 1

RNA synthesis proceeds until the RNA polymerase meets a specific self complementary sequence in template DNA which forms a hairpin due to which DNA-RNA hybrid formation is not possible, resulting in the release of the RNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

RNA synthesis usually starts with a GTP or ATP residue, whose 5'-triphosphate group is not cleaved but remains intact. During transcription the new RNA strand base pairs temporarily with the DNA template to form a short length of hybrid RNA-DNA double helix, which 'peels off' immediately after completion of transcription.

RNA synthesis proceeds until the RNA polymerase meets a specific self complementary sequence in template DNA which forms a hairpin due to which DNA-RNA hybrid formation is not possible resulting in the release of the RNA. The other signal for termination is a protein called p (rho) which interrupts transcription by preventing the further movement of the enzyme and this terminates transcription.