What is the function of rna polymerase in protein synthesis? it transcribes the dna strand. it bonds the dna strand. it unzips the dna strand. it translates the dna strand.

RNA polymerase (ribonucleic acid polymerase), both abbreviated RNAP orRNApol, official name DNA-directed RNA polymerase, is a member of a family of enzymes that are essential to life: they are found in all living organisms and many viruses. RNAP locally opens the double-stranded DNA (usually about four turns of the double helix) so that one strand of the exposed nucleotides can be used as a template for the synthesis of RNA, a process called transcription. A transcription factor and its associated transcription mediator complexmust be attached to a DNA binding site called a promoter region before RNAP can initiate the DNA unwinding at that position. RNAP has intrinsic helicase activity, therefore no separate enzyme is needed to unwind the DNA (in contrast to DNA polymerase). RNAP not only initiates RNA transcription, it also guides the nucleotides into position, facilitates attachment and elongation, has intrinsic proofreading and replacement capabilities, and termination recognition capability. In eukaryotes, RNAP can build chains as long as 2.4 million nucleotides.

DNA-Directed RNA PolymeraseIdentifiersEC number2.7.7.6CAS number9014-24-8DatabasesIntEnzIntEnz viewBRENDABRENDA entryExPASyNiceZyme viewKEGGKEGG entryMetaCycmetabolic pathwayPRIAMprofilePDB structuresRCSB PDB PDBePDBsumGene OntologyAmiGO / QuickGO

DNA strand. It translates the DNA strand.