Which enzyme is responsible for RNA synthesis during transcription?

Which enzyme is responsible for RNA synthesis during transcription?

• A. DNA polymerase
• B. RNA polymerase
• C. Ligase
• D. Reverse transcriptase

Answer: (B)

Transcription uses RNA polymerase to synthesize RNA from a DNA template. This enzyme reads the DNA template strand and adds ribonucleotides in the 5′ to 3′ direction, producing an RNA strand that is complementary to the DNA template. It doesn’t require a primer to start, unlike DNA polymerase, and it uses ribonucleotides (A, U, C, G) instead of deoxyribonucleotides. In bacteria one RNA polymerase handles transcription, while in eukaryotes there are multiple RNA polymerases with RNA polymerase II transcribing mRNA. The other enzymes have different roles: DNA polymerase builds DNA during replication, ligase seals nicks in the backbone, and reverse transcriptase makes DNA from RNA. So the enzyme responsible for RNA synthesis during transcription is RNA polymerase.

Transcription uses RNA polymerase to synthesize RNA from a DNA template. This enzyme reads the DNA template strand and adds ribonucleotides in the 5′ to 3′ direction, producing an RNA strand that is complementary to the DNA template. It doesn’t require a primer to start, unlike DNA polymerase, and it uses ribonucleotides (A, U, C, G) instead of deoxyribonucleotides. In bacteria one RNA polymerase handles transcription, while in eukaryotes there are multiple RNA polymerases with RNA polymerase II transcribing mRNA. The other enzymes have different roles: DNA polymerase builds DNA during replication, ligase seals nicks in the backbone, and reverse transcriptase makes DNA from RNA. So the enzyme responsible for RNA synthesis during transcription is RNA polymerase.