RNA polymerases
| Synthesizing Polymerase | Type of RNA Produced | Function |
|---|---|---|
| RNA polymerase I | 18S, 5.8S & 28S ribosomal RNA | Forms essential ribosomal components |
| RNA polymerase II | mRNA | Translated by ribosomes to form specific proteins |
| Small nuclear RNA | Involved in mRNA splicing & transcription regulation | |
| MicroRNA | Causes gene silencing via translation arrest or mRNA degradation | |
| RNA polymerase III | Transfer RNA | Adaptor molecule linking codons with specific amino acids |
| 5S ribosomal RNA | Essential component of 60S ribosomal subunit |
Mnemonic
I, II, and III are numbered in the same order that their products are used in protein synthesis: rRNA, mRNA, then tRNA.