METAL IONS AND INFORMATION TRANSFER--MECHANISM OF RNA SYNTHESIS

金属离子对核酸结构和功能的影响有 已经确定了。现在主要的焦点是RNA的机制。 RNA聚合酶活性部位的合成。的几何学 正在探索酶活性部位的相互作用。 转录过程，以确定此几何图形在 转录并影响其运行。一个全面的机制，以实现 确保复制遗传密码的保真度已经开发出来 依赖于聚合酶对相互之间互补的感觉 DNA碱基和传入的核苷三磷酸的碱基。这个 聚合酶改变其构象以防止当 底物不是互补的，而酶在其他情况下保留在 形成键的适当构象，以实现高效聚合 拥有正确的基地。结构模型正被应用于 了解DNA损伤、启动子和转录因子的影响 在转录上。

The effects of metal ions on nucleic acids structure and function have been determined. The primary focus is now on the mechanism of RNA synthesis at the active site of RNA polymerase. The geometry of interaction at the active site of the enzyme is being probed during the transcription process to determine how this geometry changes during transcription and affects its operation. A comprehensive mechanism for assuring fidelity in copying the genetic code has been developed which depends on the sensing by the polymerase of the complementarily between the DNA base and the base of the incoming nucleoside triphosphate. The polymerase shifts its conformation to prevent bond formation when the substrate is not complementary, while the enzyme otherwise remains in the proper conformation for bond formation to allow efficient polymerization with the correct base. The structural model is being applied to understand the effect of DNA damage, promoters, and transcription factors on transcription.