Which assay is in vitro and uses a cut DNA template to study transcription rate?
Run-off transcription assay evaluates promoter strength and accuracy of initiation in defined in vitro system. A DNA template containing promoter of interest is linearized at defined position downstream of transcription start site using restriction enzyme, creating truncated template. Addition of RNA polymerase holoenzyme with sigma factor and ribonucleoside triphosphates results in transcription initiation at promoter and elongation until enzyme runs off at cut end, producing transcript of predicted length measurable on urea-polyacrylamide gel. Amount of run-off product quantifies transcripti
Ref: NCERT Biology Class XII Principles on Klenow fill-in labeling, Lehninger Chapter 9 DNA cloning techniques, and Molecular Cloning by Sambrook Chapter 10 documenting end-labeling of cohesive termini.