Transcription in a prokaryotic cell occurs in the cytoplasm. Unlike eukaryotic cells, prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus, so their DNA is located directly in the cytoplasm, where transcription takes place. This allows transcription and translation to occur simultaneously in the cytoplasm, enabling rapid protein synthesis
. Specifically, the RNA polymerase enzyme binds to the DNA in the cytoplasm, initiates transcription by synthesizing mRNA from the DNA template, and the mRNA can immediately be translated by ribosomes present in the cytoplasm without needing to be transported elsewhere
