Question

Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of eukaryotic RNA polymerase inhibits interaction with what protein, thus allowing the polymerase to leave the promoter?

a) TBP
b) All transcription factors
c) TFIIF and TFIIH
d) TFIIS

Answer 1

Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II inhibits interaction with TFIIF and TFIIH, allowing RNA polymerase to leave the promoter.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II is a critical step in the transition from transcription initiation to elongation. When the CTD is phosphorylated, it inhibits the interaction with several basal transcription factors, allowing RNA polymerase II to leave the promoter region and commence elongation. The correct answer to the question is option c) TFIIF and TFIIH. Following phosphorylation, it is these factors along with some others that dissociate from the RNA polymerase-transcription factor complex, enabling the RNA polymerase to proceed with elongating the nascent RNA transcript.

Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of eukaryotic RNA polymerase inhibits interaction with TFIIH, thus allowing the polymerase to leave the promoter.