Bacterial transcription is the process in which messenger RNA transcripts of genetic material in bacteria are produced, to be translated for the production of proteins. Unlike in eukaryotes, bacterial transcription and translation can occur simultaneously in the cytoplasm. This is impossible in eukaryotes, where transcription occurs in a membrane-bound nucleus while translation occurs outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm (see also Eukaryotic transcription). In bacteria genetic material is not enclosed in a membrane-enclosed nucleus and has access to ribosomes in the cytoplasm.[1]

Transcription is carried out by RNA polymerase but its specificity is controlled by sequence-specific DNA binding proteins called transcription factors.

The following steps occur, in order, for transcription initiation:. promoter, and |T| stands for the terminator. The DNA on the template strand between the +1 site and the terminator is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated into protein. At this stage, the DNA is double-stranded ("closed"). This holoenzyme/wound-DNA structure is referred to as the closed complex.

The DNA is unwound and becomes single-stranded ("open") in the vicinity of the initiation site (defined as +1). This holoenzyme/unwound-DNA structure is called the open complex.
The RNA polymerase transcribes the DNA (the beta subunit initiates the synthesis), but produces about 10 abortive (short, non-productive) transcripts which are unable to leave the RNA polymerase because the exit channel is blocked by the σ-factor.
The σ-factor eventually dissociates from the core enzyme, and elongation proceeds.