RNA polymerases catalyse the DNA dependent polymerisation of RNA. Prokaryotes contain a single RNA polymerase compared to three in eukaryotes (not including mitochondrial. and chloroplast polymerases). This domain, domain 3, represents the pore domain. The 3' end of RNA is positioned close to this domain. The pore delimited by this domain is thought to act as a channel through which nucleotides enter the active site and/or where the 3' end of the RNA may be extruded during back-tracking [1,2].

1: Structural modules of the large subunits of RNA polymerase. Introducing archaebacterial and chloroplast split sites in the beta and beta' subunits of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. Severinov K, Mustaev A, Kukarin A, Muzzin O, Bass I, Darst SA, Goldfarb A; J Biol Chem 1996;271:27969-27974. PMID:8910400

2: Structural basis of transcription: RNA polymerase II at 2.8 angstrom resolution. Cramer P, Bushnell DA, Kornberg RD; Science 2001;292:1863-1876. PMID:11313498