TABLE 2.

Key components of a bacterial gene.

Term	Definition
Promoter	Two conserved gene sequences −10 and −35 nucleotides upstream from transcription initiation. Site for RNA polymerase (sigma factor) recognition and binding.
Start Site for Transcription	Site where transcription is initiated by RNA polymerase (+1).
Stop Site for Transcription	Site where transcription is terminated. RNA polymerase falls off of the DNA.
Shine-Dalgarno	Binding site for small ribosome to initiate translation.
Start Site for Translation	Site where first tRNA (i.e. amino acid) is added to initiate peptide chain formation.
Stop Site for Translation	Stop codon that signals translation termination.