Comparisons of RNA polymerases in Bateria, Eukaria and Archaea

Eukaryotes and Archaea contain subunits of RNA Polymerase II that share homology → similar to that of alpha I/II, beta/beta ‘ and omega; named differently.

Eukaryotes are named based on numbers where as Archaea are named based on letters:

Archaea:

• Rpo A’/A’’

• Rpo B

• Rpo D

• Rpo K

• Rpo L

Eukarya:

• Rpo 1

• Rpo 2

• Rpo 3

• Rpo 6

• Rpo 11

  However, both have 6-8 additional subunits (Archaea = 5, Eukarya = 7):

  Archaea:

• Rpo E

• Rpo F

• Rpo H

• Rpo N

• Rpo P

Eukarya:

• Rpo 4

• Rpo 5

• Rpo 7

• Rpo 8

• Rpo 9

• Rpo 10

• Rpo 12

All RNA pol. Share similar “hand-like” shapes with “fingers” and a “palm”