RNA polymerase
RNA polymerase attaches itself to a DNA strand
- Moves along, building an mRNA strand one base at a time
- Reacting the growing mRNA strand with one of four nucleotides
- According to strict matching rules
RNA polymerase catalyzes the copying reaction
- Within the nucleus there is DNA, RNA polymerase, and triphosphates (nucleotides with 2 extra phosphates), plus other stuff
- The triphosphates are
- adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
- cytosine triphosphate (CTP)
- guanine triphosphate (GTP)
- uracil triphosphate (UTP)