Question

E. coli RNA polymerase does not require what?

a.) a Mg2⁺ and Mn2⁺
b.) two Mg2⁺
c.) ATP, GTP, UTP, and CTP
d.) a template DNA strand.

Answer 1

E. coli RNA polymerase does not require two Mg2+ ions to function; it only needs one along with other essential components like a DNA template strand, the necessary ribonucleotides, and a single Mg2+ ion for catalysis. The answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

E. coli RNA polymerase does not require a primer to initiate transcription. If we consider what components RNA polymerase needs, we know that the critical elements include a DNA template strand for directionality, the ribonucleotide triphosphates ATP, GTP, UTP, and CTP to synthesize RNA, and Mg2+ ions for catalytic activity.

Among the options provided, the one that E. coli RNA polymerase does not require is two Mg2+ ions; it requires only one. Therefore, the correct answer is option b.) two Mg2+.