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Science 13 February 2004:
Vol. 303. no. 5660, pp. 1014 - 1016
DOI: 10.1126/science.1090839
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Reports

Structural Basis of Transcription: Separation of RNA from DNA by RNA Polymerase II

Kenneth D. Westover, David A. Bushnell, Roger D. Kornberg*

The structure of an RNA polymerase II–transcribing complex has been determined in the posttranslocation state, with a vacancy at the growing end of the RNA-DNA hybrid helix. At the opposite end of the hybrid helix, the RNA separates from the template DNA. This separation of nucleic acid strands is brought about by interaction with a set of proteins loops in a strand/loop network. Formation of the network must occur in the transition from abortive initiation to promoter escape.

Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305–5126, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kornberg{at}stanford.edu

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