What are the differences between eukaryotic transcription and prokaryotic transcription?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Eukaryotic transcription

Prokaryotic transcription

Location

Eukaryotic transcription occurs in the cell nucleus

Prokaryotic transcription occurs in the cell cytoplasm

Mechanism of transcription

A pre-mRNA molecule is formed and processed to yield a mature mRNA

mRNA is transcribed directly from the template DNA molecule

Number of RNA polymerase subunits

RNA polymerase has 10-17 subunits

RNA polymerase has 5 subunits

Occurance of transcription and translation

Transcription occurs in nucleus, and translation occurs outside the nucleus at different times

Prokaryotic transcription and translation occur simultaneously in cytoplasm

Produced mRNA

Are monocistronic

Are polycistronic

Post transcriptional modifications

Occurs during eukaryotic transcription

Do not occur

Transcriptional factors

Requires transcriptional factors to bind RNA polymerase to promoter

Requires a sigma factor to bind to promoter

RHO factor

Eukaryotes do not need RHO factors

Termination of transcription requires a RHO factor

Basis of differentiation	Eukaryotic transcription	Prokaryotic transcription
Location	Eukaryotic transcription occurs in the cell nucleus	Prokaryotic transcription occurs in the cell cytoplasm
Mechanism of transcription	A pre-mRNA molecule is formed and processed to yield a mature mRNA	mRNA is transcribed directly from the template DNA molecule
Number of RNA polymerase subunits	RNA polymerase has 10-17 subunits	RNA polymerase has 5 subunits
Occurance of transcription and translation	Transcription occurs in nucleus, and translation occurs outside the nucleus at different times	Prokaryotic transcription and translation occur simultaneously in cytoplasm
Produced mRNA	Are monocistronic	Are polycistronic
Post transcriptional modifications	Occurs during eukaryotic transcription	Do not occur
Transcriptional factors	Requires transcriptional factors to bind RNA polymerase to promoter	Requires a sigma factor to bind to promoter
RHO factor	Eukaryotes do not need RHO factors	Termination of transcription requires a RHO factor