A backbone model of ten subunits of yeast RNA polymerase II has been derived from the ongoing analysis of its crystal structure. Notable features include ‘jaws’ for holding DNA, a putatively RNA-regulated ‘sliding clamp’, two ‘pores’ located in the vicinity of the catalytic center, and a high degree of similarity with the structure of a bacterial RNA polymerase.
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Acknowledgements
We thank S. A. Darst for making coordinates of Taq RNA polymerase available and R. Kornberg for making the pol II coordinates readily available on his web site.
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Geiduschek, E., Bartlett, M. Engines of gene expression. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 437–439 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/75820
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/75820