Recognition of the Promoter site by RNAPol
The RNAPol
molecule recognizes the beginning of a transcriptional unit of
an mRNA by a short DNA
sequence motif called
a Promoter.
The Promoter is
approximately 10 bp 'upstream'
[5' to] the start site of
transcription on the template strand. The
same or similar "- 10" motif sequences are
found upstream of many genes, and act as a signal for
transcription.
The "start site"
for RNA transcription from DNA is not the same
as the "start codon" for Protein translation
from mRNA.