What is required for transcription in eukaryotes?

Transcription in eukaryotes involves a complex process requiring several components, one of which is General Transcription Factors (GTFs). GTFs are essential for the initiation of transcription as they help RNA polymerase bind to the promoter region of a gene. They facilitate the assembly of the transcription machinery at the transcription start site, ensuring that RNA polymerase can correctly recognize where to begin synthesizing RNA from the DNA template.

While RNA polymerase I is involved in transcribing rRNA, specifically the precursor for some ribosomal RNA, it is not the only type of RNA polymerase in eukaryotes (there are also RNA polymerase II and III, which transcribe mRNA and other non-coding RNAs). Spliceosomes, on the other hand, are involved in post-transcriptional modification of RNA, specifically in the splicing of introns from pre-mRNA, and ribosomes are involved in translation, not transcription.

Thus, GTFs play a critical and irreplaceable role in the transcription process in eukaryotic cells, making their presence indispensable for the initiation of transcription.