Question

Which subunit of the E. coli polymerase confers specificity to transcription?

a) Alpha
b) Beta
c) Sigma
d) Delta

Answer 1

The Sigma (σ) subunit confers specificity to transcription in E. coli polymerase.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subunit of the E. coli polymerase that confers specificity to transcription is the Sigma (σ) subunit.

The polymerase core enzyme is composed of four subunits: α, α, ß, and ß'. These subunits are responsible for assembling and disassembling during transcription. The σ subunit, on the other hand, is involved only in transcription initiation and plays a crucial role in determining the correct initiation site for mRNA synthesis.

Without the σ subunit, the core enzyme would transcribe from random sites, producing mRNA molecules that specified protein gibberish.