POLR2A
POLR2A encodes the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, the enzyme that synthesises messenger RNA in eukaryotes. The protein is also known as RPB1, POLRA and POLR2, and is catalogued by UniProt as DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB1. Browse Assay Genie's current range of POLR2A research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
POLR2A is the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, the polymerase responsible for synthesising messenger RNA in eukaryotes. In combination with several other polymerase subunits, it forms the DNA binding domain of the enzyme, a groove in which the DNA template is transcribed into RNA. The enzyme is classified under EC 2.7.7.6, and the protein belongs to the RNA polymerase beta' chain family.
The POLR2A protein carries a carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) made up of heptapeptide repeats that are essential for polymerase activity. These repeats contain serine and threonine residues, which are phosphorylated in actively transcribing RNA polymerase. This makes the CTD a common focus for studies of transcription state. UniProt records the protein in the nucleus, cytoplasm and chromosome. The mouse ortholog is Polr2a.
HGNC places the POLR2A gene in the RNA polymerase subunits group. Its approved name is RNA polymerase II subunit A, and it was previously named polymerase (RNA) II (DNA directed) polypeptide A, 220kDa. Aliases include POLRA, RPB1 and POLR2. In microbial infection, UniProt reports that RPB1 acts as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase when associated with the small delta antigen of hepatitis delta virus, serving as both replicase and transcriptase for the circular viral RNA genome.
As the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, POLR2A is central to work on how eukaryotic messenger RNA is synthesised from a DNA template.
Serine and threonine residues in the heptapeptide repeats are phosphorylated in actively transcribing polymerase, making the CTD a marker of transcriptional activity.
POLR2A localises to chromosomes, so it is widely studied in research on polymerase engagement with DNA and the regulation of gene expression.
RPB1 acts as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase with hepatitis delta virus small delta antigen, linking it to studies of viral RNA replication.
POLR2A encodes the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, which synthesises messenger RNA in eukaryotes. With other subunits it forms the DNA binding groove where the template is transcribed into RNA, and its CTD heptapeptide repeats are essential for polymerase activity.
POLR2A is also known as RPB1, POLRA and POLR2. UniProt calls the protein DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit RPB1, and HGNC lists the previous name polymerase (RNA) II (DNA directed) polypeptide A, 220kDa.
UniProt reports that, in microbial infection, the protein acts as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase when associated with the small delta antigen of hepatitis delta virus, working as replicase and transcriptase for the viral circular RNA genome. A mouse ortholog, Polr2a, exists; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other RNA polymerase subunits from the Pol I, Pol II and Pol III complexes with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P24928; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.