Question

Following the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter, the DNA is denatured into a bubble known as the _______.

Answer 1

The DNA is denatured into a bubble known as the transcription bubble following RNA polymerase binding to the promoter during the initiation of transcription.

Step-by-step explanation:

Following the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter, the DNA is denatured into a bubble known as the transcription bubble. This process begins with the initiation complex, where transcription factors and RNA polymerase bind to the promoter. Once RNA polymerase is bound, the enzyme unwinds part of the DNA double helix, forming the transcription bubble, which is a region of DNA that is temporarily unwound to allow for the synthesis of mRNA. In this region, the enzyme works from the 3' to the 5' direction of the DNA, using the template strand to synthesize a complementary strand of RNA with uracil (U) replacing thymine (T). The promoter sequence is vital because it determines the frequency with which a gene is transcribed.