RNA Polymerase: The Master Executor

RNA polymerases belong to a selected group of evolutionarily conserved proteins. Their role emerged
with the coming of DNA molecules having more stability than the RNA molecules, which formed the
RNA world before it. The chapter makes a detour through RNA polymerases working in a eukaryotic
system and their prokaryotic counterpart—a special emphasis on their structural aspect and functional
variation arising due to variation in structure. Further, the importance of various known transcription
factors has been explained along with accessory transcription factors that serve as an essential
regulator of RNAP activity. A mutation occurring in these proteins results in the aberration of
polymerase activity that results in a plethora of diseases ranging from the developmental disorder,
autoimmune diseases to cancers.