Overview Process initiation RNAp binds the template DNA strand at the promoter site with the help of transcription factors elongation RNAp synthesizes the mRNA strand in 5' → 3' direction login to view 2 more bullets RNAp inhibited by alpha-amanitin (ingestion of the amanita phalloides mushroom) termination prokaryotes login to view 7 more bullets eukaryotes login to view 1 more bullet Mono/polycistronic monocistronic = mRNA codes for 1 protein eukaryotes only have monocistronic mRNA polycistronic = mRNA codes for >1 protein e.g. bacterial lac operon