Assume all the necessary general and regulatory transcriptio

Assume all the necessary general and regulatory transcription factors are available and active,
If we are assessing transcription of two genes, one containing a promoter and an enhancer and the second contains only a promoter, which of the two will be transcribed more efficiently?

a) Gene 1

b) Gene 2

c) Both genes would be efficiently transcribed

d) Neither gene would be efficiently transcribed

Solution

The process of synthesis of RNA from DNA is known as transcription. RNA polymerase is the key enzyme involved in the process of transcription. The RNA polymerase binds to the promoter to initiate the process of transcription. Promoter is the DNA sequence situated at the upstream of transcription initiation (-10 or -35 sequence).

In eukaryotes, the activity promoter can be increased by Cis – acting elements called enhancers. The enhancer sequences can stimulate the promoters over a distance of several thousand base pairs. They can be located at either upstream, downstream or at the middle region of the transcribed gene. The enhancers are effective when they are located on DNA strand. The enhancers like promoters are bound to proteins and are involved in regulation of transcription. Gene 1 is transcribed more efficiently. Option a is correct.