Transcription, Translation, and Regulation of Eukaryotic DNA - Insect Molecular Genetics - page 41

Figure 2.2 RNA synthesis involves polymerization of free ribonucleotides by an RNA polymerase in
the 5 ′ to 3 ′ direction. Thus, the DNA template is read in the 3 ′ to 5 ′ direction but does not require
a primer (as does DNA polymerase).
Figure 2.3 Components of a typical class II eukaryotic gene that codes for proteins include non-
coding introns that are spliced out of the pre-messenger RNA, coding exons (shown in black), a
promoter to which RNA polymerase II attaches to initiate RNA synthesis, and several enhancers
(here numbered 1-6) that influence the level of gene transcription.
2.4 Transcription Involves Binding, Initiation, Elongation, and
Termination
RNA polymerase II synthesizes all mRNA in eukaryotes and is a large and complex
protein ( Cramer et al. 2000, Lee and Young 2000 ). RNA polymerase II can unwind