What statement is TRUE regarding synthesis of nucleic acids by E. coli RNA polymerase?
A) The RNA/DNA hybrid assumes a B-form DNA conformation.
B) The RNA/DNA hybrid is antiparallel.
C) The RNA/DNA hybrid is between 10 and 20 base pairs long.
D) Unwinding the DNA duplex creates negative supercoils in the template DNA.
E) None of the statements is true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The RNA/DNA hybrid formed during transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase is antiparallel, meaning the RNA strand runs in the opposite direction to the DNA template strand it is being synthesized from. This is a fundamental principle of nucleic acid biology, where RNA synthesis follows the 5' to 3' direction, complementary and antiparallel to the 3' to 5' template DNA strand.

What Statement Is TRUE Regarding Synthesis of Nucleic Acids by E