What is the function of RNA polymerase in protein synthesis?

RNA polymerase is an intermediary enzyme responsible for transcription, a process in which RNA-based genetic material is synthesized from a template of DNA. Transcription takes place in the nucleus of the cell and is the first step in protein synthesis. The newly synthesized RNA is pushed into the cytoplasm where it is decoded into proteins through the process of translation, which takes place in structures known as ribosomes. Ribosomes facilitate translation and catalyze the reaction that joins amino acids to synthesize a protein chain.