Coding Strand

Identical to the mRNA (except T for U)

Is called the "top strand"

Can be read as the RNA strand provided all T's are U's

Template Strand

Complementary and antiparallel tothe mRNA

Is the 3' to 5' strand in the dbl helix

RNA Polymerase

Required for NT polymerisation

DOES NOT have proofreading ability

Does not need a primer

Needs a specific DNA sequence infront of gene to start transcription

Needs a promoter sequence

Binding of the sigma factor to the core enzyme confers specificty for the promoter site.

Core enzyme plus sigma factor is called holoenzyme.