Question

The transition from the initiation to the elongation phase of bacterial transcription is marked by the release of the _________.

Answer 1

The release of the σ (sigma) subunit from the RNA polymerase marks the transition from initiation to elongation phase in bacterial transcription, allowing the core enzyme to synthesize mRNA.

Step-by-step explanation:

The transition from the initiation to the elongation phase of bacterial transcription is marked by the release of the σ (sigma) subunit from the RNA polymerase. The dissociation of σ allows the core enzyme to proceed along the DNA template, synthesizing mRNA in the 5' to 3' direction. This change signifies the RNA polymerase's transition into the elongation phase, during which it progresses at a rate of approximately 40 nucleotides per second, continuously unwinding the DNA ahead and rewinding it behind the moving complex.