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The DNA replication fork can pass RNA polymerase without displacing the nascent transcript

Nature volume 366, pages 33–39 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

Replication proteins encoded by bacteriophage T4 generate DNA replication forks that can pass a molecule of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase moving in the same direction as the fork in vitro. The RNA polymerase ternary transcription complex remains bound to the DNA and retains a transcription bubble after the fork passes. The by-passed ternary complex can resume faithful RNA synthesis, suggesting that the multisubunit RNA polymerase of E. coli has evolved to retain its transcript after DNA replication, allowing partially completed transcripts to be elongated into full-length RNA molecules.

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Author notes

  1. Bruce M. Alberts: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143-0448, USA

    Bin Liu, Mei Lie Wong & Bruce M. Alberts

  2. Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093-0634, USA

    Rachel L. Tinker & E. Peter Geiduschek

Authors
  1. Bin Liu
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  2. Mei Lie Wong
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  3. Rachel L. Tinker
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  4. E. Peter Geiduschek
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  5. Bruce M. Alberts
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Liu, B., Lie Wong, M., Tinker, R. et al. The DNA replication fork can pass RNA polymerase without displacing the nascent transcript. Nature 366, 33–39 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/366033a0

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