RNA pol β′ Inhibitors

RNA polymerase β' subunit inhibitors is a chemical class comprising compounds that interfere with the function of the RNA polymerase β' subunit, a critical component of the enzyme complex responsible for DNA transcription. These inhibitors achieve their effects through various mechanisms, such as binding to the enzyme's active site, interfering with the transition from initiation to elongation, or stabilizing the enzyme in an inactive form.

Most RNA polymerase inhibitors like Rifampicin and Sorangicin A work by specifically targeting the β subunit, which is essential for the polymerase's activity. These inhibitors can bind directly to the active site or to allosteric sites that induce conformational changes in the enzyme, rendering it inactive. For example, Rifampicin binds within the RNA polymerase pathway, blocking the elongation of the nascent RNA chain. Other inhibitors, such as Myxopyronin, Corallopyronin A, and Ripostatin A, target the switch region of the enzyme, which is crucial for the transition between different functional states during the transcription cycle. Tagetitoxin, on the other hand, affects the catalytic activity by interfering with the formation of phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.