METAL IONS AND INFORMATION TRANSFER--MECHANISM OF RNA SYNTHESIS

金属离子对核酸结构和功能的影响， 确定了 现在的主要焦点是RNA的机制 在RNA聚合酶的活性位点合成。 的几何形状 在酶的活性位点的相互作用正在被探测期间， 转录过程，以确定该几何形状在转录过程中如何变化， 转录并影响其操作。 综合机制 确保遗传密码复制的精确性已经发展， 依赖于聚合酶对互补的 DNA碱基和三磷酸核苷的碱基 的 聚合酶改变其构象，以防止键形成时， 底物是不互补的，而酶以其他方式保留在底物中。 用于键形成的适当构象以允许有效聚合 正确的基础。 该结构模型被应用于 了解DNA损伤，启动子和转录因子的影响 在转录。

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.