David C. Hinkle

TL;DR: It is concluded that RNA polymerase can exist in two conformational states, one programmed for promoter binding and initiation (holoenzyme) and the other designed for RNA chain elongation (core polymerase).

TL;DR: The apparent rate constant for the binding of core polymerase to T7 DNA is too large to measure at DNA concentrations ≥2.6 × 10−10 m, but it is at least 10 times greater than that measured in the presence of sigma.

TL;DR: It is suggested that the relative resistance of RNA polymerase holoenzyme-T7 DNA complexes to attack by rifampicin, when the drug is added together with the nucleoside triphosphates, is due to the rapid rate of RNA chain initiation by this complex.

TL;DR: The fidelity of initiation of T7 RNA synthesis is governed not only through regulation of the sites on T7 DNA at which binding of RNA polymerase can occur, but also by what appear to be rigid structural requirements for RNA chain initiation byRNA polymerase once it has been bound.