Question

Which of the following is the pribnow box?
a. 5’ TATAAT 3’
b. 5’ TAATTAT 3’
c. 5’ AATAAT 3’
d. 5’ ATATTA 3’

Answer 1

Hint: Pribnow box is also called the Initiation box. Because it plays a major role or an important role in the initiation process of DNA Transcription. DNA transcription is one of the first processes in gene expression. The genetic information moves from DNA to protein and this flow of information takes place in a step by step process of transcription and translation.

Complete answer:
We all know that:
- The transcription process can be divided into three steps. These are initiation, elongation, and termination.
- Transcription starts when an RNA polymerase binds to a sequence called Promoter on the DNA double helix. The best characterized prokaryotic promoters contain two 6-base pairs of consensus sequences (-10 and -35 sequence). The -10 sequence is known as the Pribnow box.
- The -10 sequence or box has the consensus TATAAT and the -35 sequence or box has a consensus TTGACA.
- Here 5’ TATAAT 3’ is the same sequence as the -10 sequence. We know that the -10 sequence is called the Pribnow box.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Additional information:
The TATA box has a function similar to the Pribnow box. The Pribnow box is found in the prokaryotes and the TATA box is found in eukaryotes and archaea. TATA box has an essential function in the initiation of the eukaryotic transcription process.

Note: Only one strand of DNA is copied through the process of transcription called the template strand and the RNA formed is called the mRNA. RNA polymerase attaches to the DNA molecule and moves along the DNA strand until it recognizes a promoter sequence. These are known as the transcription start sites. The Pribnow box is also known as the Pribnow-Schaller box. It has six nucleotides like thymine, adenine, thymine, etc. That is essential for transcription to occur in bacteria.