PROSITE documentation PDOC00896RNA polymerases beta chain signature
DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (EC 2.7.7.6) are ubiquitous enzymes necessary for the transcription of genomic DNA into RNA. Most RNA polymerases are multimeric enzymes and are composed of a variable number of subunits. However the two largest subunits (generally known as α and β chains) are present in all known multimeric RNA polymerases. The β chain is currently known in:
- Eubacterial RNA polymerase β chain (gene rpoB).
- Plants and algal chloroplast RNA polymerase β chain (gene rpoB).
- Eukaryotes RNA polymerases I, II and III second largest subunits.
- Archebacterial RNA polymerase subunit B (gene rpoB) or B' (gene rpoB1).
- Poxviruses RNA polymerase 132 Kd subunit (gene RPO132).
- Baculoviruses RNA polymerase subunit LEF-8.
- African swine fever virus RNA polymerase subunit EP1242L.
- Fungal plasmid-encoded RNA polymerases.
The β chains are proteins of from 900 to 1400 amino acid residues. A well conserved region of 13 residues that contains two conserved lysines and which is thought to be part of the active site is located in the C-terminal part of all β chains [1]. We have used this region as a signature pattern.
Last update:December 2004 / Pattern and text revised.
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1 | Authors | Passarelli A.L. Todd J.W. Miller L.K. |
Title | A baculovirus gene involved in late gene expression predicts a large polypeptide with a conserved motif of RNA polymerases. | |
Source | J. Virol. 68:4673-4678(1994). | |
PubMed ID | 8207843 |
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