DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalyzes the transcription of DNA into RNA using the four ribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates. a ribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate + RNA(n) = diphosphate + RNA(n+1) In plastids the minimal PEP RNA polymerase catalytic core is composed of four subunits: alpha, beta, beta', and beta''. When a (nuclear-encoded) sigma factor is associated with the core the holoenzyme is formed, which can initiate transcription. The nonsense codons at positions 46, 421, 973, 984 and 1048 are modified to sense codons. Belongs to the RNA polymerase beta chain family.