PRIBNOW BOX Meaning and
Definition
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The Pribnow box, also known as the -10 box, is a conserved DNA sequence motif found in prokaryotic genomes. It is typically located approximately 10 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site and is crucial for the recognition and binding of RNA polymerase during the initiation of transcription.
This regulatory element was first identified in the 1970s by David Pribnow, an American biologist who has made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology. The Pribnow box is found in the promoter region of most bacterial genes and plays a fundamental role in gene expression by serving as a recognition site for RNA polymerase.
The sequence of the Pribnow box is highly conserved among different bacterial species, typically consisting of the hexamer sequence "TATAAT." This conserved element promotes the unwinding of DNA helix and initiates the transcription process by providing a binding site for RNA polymerase. The binding of RNA polymerase to the Pribnow box marks the initiation of transcription, resulting in the synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA) from the DNA template.
The presence of a functional Pribnow box is crucial for efficient gene transcription. Mutations or alterations within the Pribnow box sequence can significantly affect gene expression levels and ultimately result in abnormal cellular functions. Therefore, understanding the structural and functional aspects of the Pribnow box is of great importance in studying gene regulation and cellular processes in prokaryotes.
Common Misspellings for PRIBNOW BOX
- oribnow box
- lribnow box
- 0ribnow box
- peibnow box
- pdibnow box
- pfibnow box
- ptibnow box
- p5ibnow box
- p4ibnow box
- prubnow box
- prjbnow box
- prkbnow box
- probnow box
- pr9bnow box
- pr8bnow box
- privnow box
- prinnow box
- prihnow box
- prignow box
- pribbow box
Etymology of PRIBNOW BOX
The term "Pribnow box" is derived from the name of Terry Pribnow, a molecular biologist who discovered and characterized a conserved sequence element in the promoter region of a specific gene in bacteria. In 1975, Terry Pribnow published a landmark paper in the journal Nucleic Acids Research titled "Nucleotide sequence of an RNA polymerase binding site at an early T7 promoter". In this paper, he described a short conserved sequence, which is crucial for the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase in bacteria. The scientific community began referring to this conserved sequence as the "Pribnow box" in Terry Pribnow's honor, and the name has since become widely used to describe this important genetic element.
