Answer: The order of actions by mRNA polymerase can be described as follows:
Explanation:
Initiation: mRNA polymerase recognizes and binds to the promoter region on the DNA template strand. This marks the beginning of transcription. The DNA helix unwinds, and the polymerase begins to move along the DNA strand.
Elongation: As mRNA polymerase moves along the DNA template strand, it adds complementary RNA nucleotides to the growing mRNA strand. The polymerase "reads" the DNA sequence and synthesizes an mRNA molecule with a complementary sequence to the DNA template.
Termination: Eventually, the mRNA polymerase reaches a termination signal on the DNA template strand. This signal indicates the end of the gene or region being transcribed. The polymerase releases the newly synthesized mRNA molecule and detaches from the DNA template.
Post-transcriptional modifications: After transcription, the newly synthesized mRNA molecule may undergo various modifications before it can be translated into a protein. These modifications can include the addition of a 5' cap and a poly-A tail, as well as the removal of introns through a process called splicing.
It's important to note that mRNA polymerase is responsible for transcribing DNA into mRNA, which is then used as a template for protein synthesis during translation.