What is the DNA-binding sequence that RNA polymerase forms during transcription?

The DNA-binding sequence that RNA polymerase recognizes and binds to during transcription is the TATA box. This sequence, typically found in the promoter region of eukaryotic genes, is crucial for the initiation of transcription. It is located approximately 25-30 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site and plays a significant role in the formation of the transcription initiation complex.

The TATA sequence helps RNA polymerase II to correctly position itself at the start of a gene, facilitating the assembly of other transcription factors and components that are essential for initiating RNA synthesis. The presence of this sequence indicates where the unwinding of DNA should begin, allowing for the transcription of the downstream coding region.

In contrast, while GC-rich regions can also be found in promoters, they do not form the specific binding site for RNA polymerase like the TATA box does. AUG is a start codon in mRNA, and ATGC are nucleotide bases that make up DNA, neither of which serves as a specific binding sequence for RNA polymerase in the context of transcription initiation.