RNA polymerase 1 (also known as Pol I) is, in higher eukaryotes, the polymerase that only transcribes ribosomal RNA (but not 5S rRNA, which is synthesized by RNA polymerase III), a type of RNA that accounts for over 50% of the total RNA synthesized in a cell.
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In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: RNA polymerase I
- RNA polymerase I in the context of Ribosomal DNA
RNA polymerase I in the context of Ribosomal DNA
The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) consists of a group of ribosomal RNA encoding genes and related regulatory elements, and is widespread in similar configuration in all domains of life. The ribosomal DNA encodes the non-coding ribosomal RNA, integral structural elements in the assembly of ribosomes, its importance making it the most abundant section of RNA found in cells of eukaryotes. Additionally, these segments include regulatory sections, such as a promoter specific to the RNA polymerase I, as well as both transcribed and non-transcribed spacer segments.
Due to their high importance in the assembly of ribosomes for protein biosynthesis, the rDNA genes are generally highly conserved in molecular evolution. The number of copies can vary considerably per species. Ribosomal DNA is widely used for phylogenetic studies.
View the full Wikipedia page for Ribosomal DNA