Intrinsic transcription termination by multisubunit RNA polymerases

Transcription is a process of genetic information rewriting from DNA sequence to RNA copy by DNA dependent RNA polymerase. Two mechanisms of transcription termination are known for bacteria: intrinsic transcription termination, independent of any accessory factors, and transcription termination dependent on proten factor called Rho. Intrinsic transcription termination is common mainly for bacteria, yet different, but partially similar forms of intrinsic transcription termination occur also in eukaryotes and archaea. This thesis includes a brief summary of RNA polymerase structure and elongation complex stability, describes individual steps of intrinsic transcription termination mechanism in bacteria including all disscused models and gives examples of intrinsic transcription termination in eukaryotes and archaea and their comparison with bacterial model of intrinsic transcription termination. Key words: RNA polymerase, elongation complex, intrinsic transcription termination, hairpin RNA structure