Which enzyme is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template?

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template is RNA polymerase. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the process of transcription, where it binds to a specific region of DNA and unwinds the double helix. RNA polymerase then facilitates the assembly of RNA nucleotides complementary to the DNA strand, synthesizing a new strand of RNA.

In the context of RNA synthesis, RNA polymerase is essential because it accurately reads the DNA template and catalyzes the formation of the RNA molecule, which can then undergo processing to become a functional mRNA, tRNA, or rRNA. This process is fundamental to gene expression, allowing the information stored in DNA to be converted into proteins.

Other enzymes listed have different specific functions: DNA polymerase is involved in DNA replication, reverse transcriptase synthesizes DNA from an RNA template (which is critical in retroviruses), and ligase links DNA fragments together during replication and repair processes. Each of these enzymes has a unique and vital role in molecular biology but does not synthesize RNA from DNA.