Describe the two types of transcription termination found in bacterial genes. How does transcription termination differ for eukaryotic genes?

Key Concepts

Transcription Termination in Bacteria

In bacteria, transcription termination occurs primarily through two mechanisms: Rho-dependent and Rho-independent termination. Rho-dependent termination involves the Rho protein binding to the RNA transcript and moving along it to catch up with the RNA polymerase, causing it to dissociate. Rho-independent termination relies on the formation of a hairpin loop in the RNA followed by a series of uracil residues, which destabilizes the RNA-DNA hybrid and leads to termination.

Eukaryotic Transcription Termination

Eukaryotic transcription termination is more complex than in bacteria and involves several factors, including the cleavage of the RNA transcript and the addition of a poly-A tail. After RNA polymerase II transcribes a gene, it continues to elongate until it encounters a polyadenylation signal, which triggers the cleavage of the RNA and the addition of adenine nucleotides. This process is coupled with the release of the RNA polymerase from the DNA template.

Differences Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Termination

The key differences between transcription termination in prokaryotes and eukaryotes lie in the mechanisms and complexity involved. Prokaryotic termination is generally simpler and can occur co-transcriptionally, while eukaryotic termination involves additional processing steps, such as RNA cleavage and polyadenylation. Furthermore, eukaryotic transcription occurs in the nucleus, requiring additional regulatory mechanisms to ensure proper gene expression.