In which direction does RNA Polymerase travel along the template DNA strand during transcription?

During transcription, RNA Polymerase travels along the template DNA strand in the 3' to 5' direction. This movement is essential because RNA synthesis occurs in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that RNA Polymerase must read the DNA template strand in the opposite direction to accurately create a complementary RNA strand.

As RNA Polymerase moves along the template strand, it unwinds the DNA and synthesizes a growing RNA strand by adding ribonucleotides that are complementary to the DNA bases. For instance, where there is an adenine (A) on the DNA, RNA Polymerase incorporates uracil (U) into the RNA. The enzyme acts on the template in a way that allows for the new RNA transcription to occur effectively, which ultimately results in the production of RNA molecules such as mRNA.

This fundamental aspect of transcription highlights the importance of directionality in nucleic acid synthesis and the role of RNA Polymerase in facilitating this process.