21 RNA Polymerase

Based on PDB code 1MSW, this is the structure of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP). The RNAP enzyme transcribes (copies) the language of genomic DNA into RNA. It does this by sliding along a gene, separating the two DNA strands as it goes and using one of the DNA strands (the ‘template’ strand) to make a matching RNA copy. The resulting single-strand messenger RNA (mRNA) can be translated by a ribosome into a new protein.

Our model shows an RNAP from T7 bacteriophage bound to its linear double-strand DNA genome. The RNAP is in light grey, and the two DNA strands are in dark and light blue. The newly-transcribed mRNA is in red and the RNAP is using the light blue DNA strand as the template. This 13.5 cm model is 13 million times larger than the 10.5 nm diameter of the RNAP and comes with a removable display stand.

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