Pol I/II/III RPB8 Background Information Eukaryotes produce 3 distinct classes of RNA polymerase, Pol I, II and III. Each polymerase is responsible for the synthesis of a different class of RNA. RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcribes the rRNA (ribosomal RNA) genes for the precursor of the 28S, 18S, and 5.8S molecules of the ribosome. RNA polymerase II transcribes protein-encoding genes into mRNA (messenger RNA) and snRNA (small nuclear RNA) genes into snRNAs that influence the processing of other classes of RNA. RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribes the 5S rRNA genes and all of the tRNA (transfer RNA) genes. Each class of RNA polymerase is assembled from 9 to 15 different polypeptides. The RPB6 and RPB8 subunits are shared by all 3 RNA polymerases.
