Question

What statement is FALSE in regard to how RNA polymerase (RNAP) interacts with promoter DNA vs. non-promoter DNA?

A. Core RNAP is stored bound to nonspecific DNA sites before sigma subunit binds to the core

B. Affinity of RNAP core for loose binding sites is too high to allow it to distinguish promoter sequence from non-promoter sequence

C. Binding of sigma subunit reduces affinity of RNAP core for non-promoter sequence and increases affinity for promoter sequence

D. Binding of sigma causes RNAP core to bind much tighter to non-promoter sequence

Answer 1

The false statement is that binding of sigma causes RNAP core to bind tighter to non-promoter sequence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The false statement regarding how RNA polymerase (RNAP) interacts with promoter DNA versus non-promoter DNA is binding of sigma causes RNAP core to bind much tighter to non-promoter sequence.

The correct statement is that when the sigma subunit binds to the core RNAP, it reduces the affinity of the RNAP core for non-promoter sequence and increases the affinity for the promoter sequence. Option D is false because the binding of sigma subunit does not cause the RNAP core to bind tighter to the non-promoter sequence.

Therefore, option D is the false statement in regard to how RNA polymerase interacts with promoter DNA versus non-promoter DNA.