Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription

The difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription can be understood better with the help of the concept of transcription. Transcription is a process in which, DNA’s genetic information is copied to an intermediate molecule. This molecule is known as RNA. In other words, from a DNA sequence, the process of producing RNA molecules is known as transcription. Information transcription can be done through the synthesis of the RNA. The information that RNA keeps is the same as the gene because the gene transcribes sequence is complementary. Even though the chemistry and fundamental process behind the transcription are the same for both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic, yet there is a difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic. Let’s discuss the important differences between these two, that is Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic in an easy to moderate format. But before discussing the differences, first students need to know the similarities between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic.

Keyterms: DNA, RNA, Prokaryotic Transcription, Eukaryotic Transcription, Synthesis, Prokaryotic Cell, Eukaryotic Cell, DNA duplex, Enzymes

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Similarities Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription

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The similarities between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription are the following:

• In these two transcriptions, the template for the synthesis is provided by the RNA.
• In both these two transcriptions, one strand of DNA duplex is considered as the template.
• Both these two transcriptions produce RNA molecules.
• The chemical composition of both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcriptions is similar.
• The RNA polymerase enzyme facilitates both these Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcriptions.

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Differences Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription

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The differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcription are the following:

• Timing Process: For prokaryotic transcription, both the process of transcription occurs continuously and simultaneously in the cytoplasm. But this process does not occur continuously and simultaneously in Eukaryotic Transcription.
• Process Location: The translation and transcription of prokaryotic transcription occur in the cytoplasm. However, in Eukaryotic Transcription, the transcription occurs in the cytoplasm and takes place in the nucleus.
• RNA Processing: For prokaryotic transcription, RNA processing takes place in the cytoplasm and for eukaryotic transcription, RNA processing takes place in the nucleus.
• Genetic Association: The genetic association in prokaryotic transcription is simple because the DNA is not associated with the histone protein. But in the case of prokaryotic transcription as the DNA is associated with the protein the process is not simple. It is a bit complex.
• Different types of RNA: In prokaryotic transcription, there is only one type of RNA polymerase enzyme. This polymerase enzyme helps to synthesize all the other types of RNA, for example, tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA. On the other hand, eukaryotic transcription involves three types of RNA. These three types of RNAs are RNA Polymerase II for mRNA, rRNA synthesis, and RNA Polymerase III to aid the synthesis of 5SrRNA and tRNA.
• RNA Polymerase Composition: Prokaryotic transcription’s RNA polymerase consists of 5 polypeptides. But eukaryotic transcription’s RNA polymerase I consist of 14 subunits and RNA polymerase II consists of 10-12 subunits.
• Promoter Region Location: In both transcriptions, the promoter region is located upstream of the start site. However, in eukaryotic transcription, many times the promoter region is located downstream to the start site in RNA Polymerase III.
• ‘O’ Factor Presence: The major difference between prokaryotic transcription and eukaryotic transcription is the differences lie due to the presence of the O factor. Prokaryotic transcription initiation needs the presence of the O factor, but it is not present in eukaryotic transcription.
• RNA Capping: RNA capping is one of the essential points to differentiate between prokaryotic transcription and eukaryotic transcription. The mRNA does not have a 5’ guanosine cap and the RNA is absent in prokaryotic transcription. But RNA capping is there in eukaryotic transcription including 5’ position mRNA.
• RNA Binding with Promoter Region: The RNA binding in prokaryotic transcription binds and recognizes RNA polymerase with the help of the O factor in prokaryotic transcription. But this is only possible in the case of eukaryotic transcription when there are initiation factors in the promoter region.

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Things to Remember

• Transcription is a process in which, DNA’s genetic information is copied to an intermediate molecule. This molecule is known as RNA. The RNA polymerase enzyme facilitates both these Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcriptions. The translation and transcription of prokaryotic transcription occur in the cytoplasm. However, in Eukaryotic Transcription, the transcription occurs in the cytoplasm and takes place in the nucleus.
• Even though the chemistry and fundamental process behind the transcription are the same for both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic, yet there is a difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic. The major difference between prokaryotic transcription and eukaryotic transcription is the difference lies due to the presence of the O factor. Prokaryotic transcription initiation needs the presence of the O factor, but it is not present in eukaryotic transcription. In both transcriptions, the promoter region is located upstream of the start site. However, in eukaryotic transcription, many times the promoter region is located downstream to the start site in RNA Polymerase III.

• Although there are many differences between prokaryotic transcription and eukaryotic transcription, these both are similar in a few cases. The chemical composition of both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Transcriptions is similar. In these two transcriptions, the template for the synthesis is provided by the RNA.

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