What is the Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription are as follows:
- Location: Prokaryotic transcription takes place in the cytoplasm, while eukaryotic transcription occurs in the nucleus.
- Transcriptional factors: Eukaryotic transcription requires transcriptional factors, which are proteins that help initiate the transcription process. In contrast, prokaryotic transcription does not require such factors.
- RNA polymerase: Prokaryotic RNA polymerase is a complex of five polypeptides, while eukaryotic RNA polymerase is a complex of 10-15 polypeptides.
- Promoter elements: Prokaryotes have three different promoter elements (-10, -35 promoters, and upstream elements), while eukaryotes have multiple promoter elements, such as the TATA box, initiator elements, downstream core promoter element, CAAT box, and the GC box.
- RNA processing: In prokaryotes, RNAs are released and processed in the cytoplasm, while in eukaryotes, RNAs are released and processed in the nucleus.
- Post-transcriptional modifications: Eukaryotic RNAs undergo post-transcriptional modifications, including capping, polyadenylation, and splicing. These events do not occur in prokaryotes.
- Transcription and translation: In prokaryotes, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, while in eukaryotes, the RNA is first transcribed and then translated in the cytoplasm.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription? Comparative Table: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Transcription
Comparative Table: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Transcription
The table below highlights the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription:
Feature | Prokaryotic Transcription | Eukaryotic Transcription |
---|---|---|
Location | Cytoplasm | Nucleus |
RNA Processing | Cytoplasm | Nucleus |
Transcription and Translation | Simultaneous | Separate |
RNA Polymerase | Complex of 5 polypeptides | Complex of 10-15 polypeptides |
RNA Capping | Absent | Present |
Promoters | Less variation | More variation |
Post-Transcriptional Modifications | Absent | Present |
mRNA Sequence | Polycistronic | Monocistronic |
Despite these differences, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription share some similarities, such as using RNA polymerase as a catalyst for RNA synthesis, with DNA functioning as a template for RNA production.
Read more:
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Translation
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic mRNA
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Translation Initiation
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic RNA Polymerase
- Protein Synthesis in Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic DNA
- Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic Promoters
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic DNA Replication
- Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Genome
- Gene Expression in Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
- Eukaryotic Cells vs Prokaryotic Cells
- Transcription vs Translation
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Ribosomes
- Replication vs Transcription
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Topoisomerase
- Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cell Division
- Genetic Material of Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
- DNA Replication vs Transcription