RNA Polymerase Inhibition Halts mRNA Synthesis

Steps:

• Antibiotics bind to RNA polymerase, blocking its function in prokaryotes.
• RNA polymerase initiates transcription by unwinding DNA and catalyzing mRNA formation.
• Without active RNA polymerase, nucleotides cannot link to form mRNA strands.
• No mRNA means no template for translation, stopping protein synthesis.

Why B is correct:

• RNA polymerase catalyzes condensation reactions that join RNA nucleotides via phosphodiester bonds to elongate mRNA.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Describes translation errors at ribosomes, not transcription disruption.
• C: DNA unwinding is primarily by helicase; RNA polymerase binding affects synthesis, not unwinding directly.
• D: Nucleotide pairing occurs during elongation, but inhibition prevents overall polymerization, not just pairing.

Final answer: B