What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription

There are some conserved domains that are found between prokaryotic polymerase and eukaryotic polymerase II. For instance the bridge helix, which is involved in translocation of the Polymerase in porkaryotes and eukaryotes, is conserved, however the bridge helix in prokaryotes is always bent where as the bridge helix is straight in eukaryotes 6.

Another conserved domain is the rudder the loop that is closest to the active center. The active center is also conserved in both prokaryote and eukaryotes.

There are however some marked differences between the two. Prokaryotic transcription is much simpler than eukaryotic transcription. For instance prokaryotes have only one RNA polymerase that carries out the complete process of transcription.

Furthermore each eukaryotic polymerase carries out its necessary functions at different locations in the cell. Prokaryotic transcription is carried out in the cytoplasm, where transcription is coupled with translation 1. When a gene is expressed, a specific protein is produced.

The first step is transcription. Transcription is the basic process that occurs in both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription.

The difference between prokaryotic transcription and eukaryotic transcription is that the prokaryotic transcription process occurs in the cytoplasm, while the eukaryotic transcription process occurs in the nucleus. In prokaryotic transcription and translation, both occur at the same time, so there is a small amount of mRNA processing. The RNA polymerase enzyme is required for prokaryotic transcription to be completed effectively. In eukaryotic transcription, there is extensive mRNA processing, that is, removal of introns and addition of exons , the addition of 5 caps, and the addition of poly-a tails.

A total of five different kinds of RNA polymerases exist in eukaryotes, each of which is specifically designed to meet a certain transcriptional need and comprises between 10 and 17 subunits. Prokaryotic transcription often involves several genes, resulting in polycistronic mRNAs that specify multiple proteins in a single molecule.

The prokaryotic transcription proceeds in three steps- Initiation, Elongation, Termination. The RNA polymerase is a core enzyme which is having different subunits. Citation: Clancy, S. Nature Education 1 1 However, this is where the similarities between prokaryote and eukaryote expression end.

Aa Aa Aa. Transcription: An Overview. Transcription in Bacteria. Transcription in Eukaryotes. Figure 1. References and Recommended Reading Hahn, S. Poisonous principles of mushrooms of the genus Amanita : Four-carbon amines acting on the central nervous system and cell-destroying cyclic peptides are produced. Science , — Article History Close. Share Cancel. Revoke Cancel. Keywords Keywords for this Article. Save Cancel. Flag Inappropriate The Content is: Objectionable.

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