The Ribosome Holds the RNA Polymerase on Track in Bacteria

Abstract

The central dogma of molecular biology comprises two fundamental mechanistic steps of gene expression (transcription and translation), which, in bacteria, are coupled. A recent study provides structural insights into a supercomplex between the RNA polymerase and the ribosome, thus highlighting the synergy between two key macromolecular machineries in the cell.

Keywords: RNA polymerase; bacteria; gene expression; ribosome; transcription; translation.