Expert: Sridhar Acharya Malkaram - 3/5/2007

Question
Dear acharya
I am interested knowing about the mechanism of action of promoters for mRNA synthesis, and in fact I want to know whether any sequence or segment of promoters is itself available in transcripted mRNA.
Sincerely:
Reihaneh


Answer
Promoter is a small strech of DNA sequence, located just before the Gene or some times forming also a part of the Gene.
It is the place on the DNA, where the RNA polymerase enzyme initially binds and starts its transcription function. So basically they are the complementary regions on the DNA for a strong interaction of the  RNA polymerase enzyme with the DNA.
Without promoter RNA polymerase cannot bind to DNA and initiate transcription.
Rarely part of the promoter falls within the Gene that is transcribed. Yes in this case it forms part of the tarnscribed mRNA.