RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA in which direction?

RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA in which direction?

• A. 3' to 5'
• B. 5' to 3'
• C. 5' to 3' on the template strand
• D. 3' to 5' on the template strand

Answer: (C)

RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing RNA, so the RNA chain is built in the 5' to 3' direction. It reads the DNA template strand in the opposite orientation (3' to 5'), producing an RNA that is antiparallel to the template. Describing this as RNA synthesis occurring in the 5' to 3' direction on the template strand captures that the product grows 5' to 3' while the template guides the process in its 3' to 5' direction. In short, the enzyme moves along the template strand in one direction, and the RNA product extends in the opposite orientation, ending up with 5' and 3' ends on the RNA.

RNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing RNA, so the RNA chain is built in the 5' to 3' direction. It reads the DNA template strand in the opposite orientation (3' to 5'), producing an RNA that is antiparallel to the template. Describing this as RNA synthesis occurring in the 5' to 3' direction on the template strand captures that the product grows 5' to 3' while the template guides the process in its 3' to 5' direction. In short, the enzyme moves along the template strand in one direction, and the RNA product extends in the opposite orientation, ending up with 5' and 3' ends on the RNA.