What are the differences between DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis for comparison
DNA polymerase
RNA polymerase

Function
DNA Replication
Transcription

Phase during which it governs the catalytic reaction
Used in the replication process during the S1 phase of a cell cycle
Used in the transcription process during the G1 and G2 phases of the growth phase

Resulting product
Synthesizes double-stranded DNA
Synthesizes single-stranded RNA

Extent of synthesis
Synthesizes the entire chromosome
Stops the synthesis at the transcription termination site

Primer requirement
Required to initiate replication
Not required to initiate transcription

Activity
Polymerization and proof-reading activity
Only polymerization activity

Error rate
Low error rate because of proof-reading activity
Very high error rate because of no proof-reading activity

Rate of polymerization
Faster rate, approximately 1000 nucleotides per second
Slower rate, approximately 40 to 80 nucleotides per second

Additional enzyme requirement
Helicase and topoisomerase
Holoenzyme

Base pairs used to synthesize product
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Uracil

Efficiency
High
Low

Accuracy
High
Low

Basis for comparison	DNA polymerase	RNA polymerase
Function	DNA Replication	Transcription
Phase during which it governs the catalytic reaction	Used in the replication process during the S1 phase of a cell cycle	Used in the transcription process during the G1 and G2 phases of the growth phase
Resulting product	Synthesizes double-stranded DNA	Synthesizes single-stranded RNA
Extent of synthesis	Synthesizes the entire chromosome	Stops the synthesis at the transcription termination site
Primer requirement	Required to initiate replication	Not required to initiate transcription
Activity	Polymerization and proof-reading activity	Only polymerization activity
Error rate	Low error rate because of proof-reading activity	Very high error rate because of no proof-reading activity
Rate of polymerization	Faster rate, approximately 1000 nucleotides per second	Slower rate, approximately 40 to 80 nucleotides per second
Additional enzyme requirement	Helicase and topoisomerase	Holoenzyme
Base pairs used to synthesize product	Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine	Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Uracil
Efficiency	High	Low
Accuracy	High	Low

What are the differences between DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase?

Posted October 18, 2021