《生命科学》 2025, 37(7): 764-776

RNA聚合酶的结构和转录机制

尤琳琳^1,2 , 章洪伟¹ , 张　余^1,*

¹中国科学院分子植物科学卓越创新中心，植物性状形成与塑造全国重点实验室， 上海 200032 ²美国罗格斯大学瓦克斯曼微生物研究所，新泽西州 皮斯卡塔维 08854

摘　要：

转录是RNA 聚合酶将遗传信息从DNA 传递到RNA 的过程，是中心法则的重要环节。转录主要分为起始、延伸和终止三个阶段。在转录起始阶段，RNA 聚合酶和转录起始因子协同识别启动子DNA 序列或者染色质状态，结合到基因组特定区域起始RNA 合成。在转录延伸阶段，RNA 聚合酶在转录延伸因子的帮助下，以DNA 为模板合成RNA。在转录终止阶段，RNA 聚合酶停止RNA 合成，解离RNA 和DNA。在转录的三个阶段中，RNA 聚合酶均受到多重控制从而精确控制基因表达。本文综述了模式生物的基因转录分子机制及其调控机制，以及高等植物中功能特化的RNA 聚合酶的特殊工作和调控机制。

通讯作者：张　余 , Email:yzhang@cemps.ac.cn

Structure, transcription mechanism, and regulation of RNA polymerases

YOU Lin-Lin^1,2 , ZHANG Hong-Wei¹ , ZHANG Yu^1,*

¹State Key Laboratory of Plant Trait Design, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China ²Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA

Abstract:

Transcription is the process by which an RNA polymerase (RNAP) transcribes genetic information from DNA to RNA. The transcription process can be divided into three stages: initiation, elongation, and termination. During transcription initiation, RNAPs and transcription initiation factors cooperatively recognize promoter DNA sequences or chromatin states and initiate RNA synthesis at certain genomic regions. In the elongation stage, RNAPs extend RNA using the genomic DNA as template, with assistance from various elongation factors. In the termination stage, RNAPs stop RNA synthesis, release the transcripts, and dissociate from genomic DNA. Across all three stages, RNAPs are subject to multiple layers of regulation for precisely controlled gene expression. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of gene transcription in model organisms, with a particular focus on the specialized functions and regulatory mechanisms of RNA polymerases in higher plants.

Communication Author：ZHANG Yu , Email:yzhang@cemps.ac.cn