What enzyme catalyzes transcription?

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Multiple Choice

What enzyme catalyzes transcription?

Explanation:
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, and it is carried out by RNA polymerase. This enzyme reads the DNA sequence and links together ribonucleotides to form an RNA molecule, adding them in the 5′ to 3′ direction. It can start RNA synthesis without a primer, typically at promoter regions aided by transcription factors (or a sigma factor in bacteria), which helps the enzyme locate where to begin. The other enzymes perform different tasks in DNA metabolism. DNA polymerase builds DNA strands during replication, using deoxyribonucleotides and requiring a primer to start. Ligase seals breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone to join DNA fragments, and helicase unwinds the double helix to allow access for enzymes like polymerases and RNA polymerase.

Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, and it is carried out by RNA polymerase. This enzyme reads the DNA sequence and links together ribonucleotides to form an RNA molecule, adding them in the 5′ to 3′ direction. It can start RNA synthesis without a primer, typically at promoter regions aided by transcription factors (or a sigma factor in bacteria), which helps the enzyme locate where to begin.

The other enzymes perform different tasks in DNA metabolism. DNA polymerase builds DNA strands during replication, using deoxyribonucleotides and requiring a primer to start. Ligase seals breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone to join DNA fragments, and helicase unwinds the double helix to allow access for enzymes like polymerases and RNA polymerase.

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