scholarly journals Formation of Intermediate Transcription Initiation Complexes at pfliD and pflgM by ς28 RNA Polymerase

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (21) ◽  
pp. 6244-6252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Givens ◽  
Colleen L. McGovern ◽  
Alicia J. Dombroski

ABSTRACT The ς subunit of prokaryotic RNA polymerase is an important factor in the control of transcription initiation. Primary ς factors are essential for growth, while alternative ς factors are activated in response to various stimuli. Expression of class 3 genes during flagellum biosynthesis in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is dependent on the alternative ς factor ς28. Previously, a novel mechanism of transcription initiation at the fliC promoter by ς28holoenzyme was proposed. Here, we have characterized the mechanism of transcription initiation by a holoenzyme carrying ς28 at the fliD and flgM promoters to determine if the mechanism of initiation observed at pfliC is a general phenomenon for all ς28-dependent promoters. Temperature-dependent footprinting demonstrated that promoter binding properties and low-temperature open complex formation are similar for pfliC, pfliD, and pflgM. However, certain aspects of DNA strand separation and complex stability are promoter dependent. Open complexes form in a concerted manner at pflgM, while a sequential pattern of open complex formation occurs at pfliD. Open and initiated complexes formed by holoenzyme carrying ς28 are generally unstable to heparin challenge, with the exception of initiated complexes at pflgM, which are stable in the presence of nucleoside triphosphates.

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (13) ◽  
pp. 6685-6698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drake Jensen ◽  
Ana Ruiz Manzano ◽  
Jayan Rammohan ◽  
Christina L Stallings ◽  
Eric A Galburt

Abstract The pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis, enacts unique transcriptional regulatory mechanisms when subjected to host-derived stresses. Initiation of transcription by the Mycobacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) has previously been shown to exhibit different open complex kinetics and stabilities relative to Escherichia coli (Eco) RNAP. However, transcription initiation rates also depend on the kinetics following open complex formation such as initial nucleotide incorporation and subsequent promoter escape. Here, using a real-time fluorescence assay, we present the first in-depth kinetic analysis of initial transcription and promoter escape for the Mtb RNAP. We show that in relation to Eco RNAP, Mtb displays slower initial nucleotide incorporation but faster overall promoter escape kinetics on the Mtb rrnAP3 promoter. Furthermore, in the context of the essential transcription factors CarD and RbpA, Mtb promoter escape is slowed via differential effects on initially transcribing complexes. Finally, based on their ability to increase the rate of open complex formation and decrease the rate of promoter escape, we suggest that CarD and RbpA are capable of activation or repression depending on the rate-limiting step of a given promoter's basal initiation kinetics.


1990 ◽  
Vol 270 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Chan ◽  
A Spassky ◽  
S Busby

Transcription initiation at the Escherichia coli galP1 promoter does not depend on specific nucleotide sequences in the -35 region. Footprint analysis of transcriptionally competent complexes between E. coli RNA polymerase and DNA fragments carrying galP1 shows that RNA polymerase protects sequences as far upstream as -55, whereas sequences around the -35 region are exposed. In contrast, with galP1 derivatives carrying -35 region sequences resembling the consensus, RNA polymerase protects bases as far as -45, and the -35 region is fully protected. Taken together, our data suggest that the overall architecture of RNA polymerase-promoter complexes can vary according to whether or not consensus -35 region sequences are present; in the absence of these sequences, open complex formation requires distortion of the promoter DNA. However, the unwinding of promoter DNA around the transcription start is not affected by the nature of the -35 region sequence. With a galP1 derivative carrying point mutations in the spacer region that greatly reduce promoter activity, the protection of bases by RNA polymerase around the -10 sequence and transcription start site is reduced. In contrast, protection of the region upstream of -25 is unaffected by the spacer mutations, although sequences from -46 to -54 become hypersensitive to attack by potassium permanganate, indicating severe distortion or kinking of this zone. We suggest that, with this galP1 derivative, RNA polymerase is blocked in a complex that is an intermediate on the path to open complex formation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (10) ◽  
pp. 3025-3031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried Hausner ◽  
Michael Thomm

ABSTRACT Transcription in Archaea is initiated by association of a TATA box binding protein (TBP) with a TATA box. This interaction is stabilized by the binding of the transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) orthologue TFB. We show here that the RNA polymerase of the archaeonMethanococcus, in contrast to polymerase II, does not require hydrolysis of the β-γ bond of ATP for initiation of transcription and open complex formation on linearized DNA. Permanganate probing revealed that the archaeal open complex spanned at least the DNA region from −11 to −1 at a tRNAValpromoter. The Methanococcus TBP-TFB promoter complex protected the DNA region from −40 to −14 on the noncoding DNA strand and the DNA segment from −36 to −17 on the coding DNA strand from DNase I digestion. This DNase I footprint was extended only to the downstream end by the addition of the RNA polymerase to position +17 on the noncoding strand and to position +13 on the coding DNA strand.


1993 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Minchin ◽  
S Busby

Methylation-interference assays have been used to identify guanine residues that make important contacts with RNA polymerase during open-complex formation at two related Escherichia coli promoters. Methylation of lower-strand G-31 at a gal consensus promoter completely prevents complex formation, while modification of upper-strand G-33 has no detectable effect. At galP1, which lacks a consensus -35 region, modification of lower-strand G-33 and upper-strand G-14 reduces, but does not prevent, complex formation. G-33 is the only guanine residue in the -35 region of galP1 where modification interferes with open-complex formation. Since this guanine residue is not protected in open complexes, we conclude that its modification causes alteration of, or interference with, a transient contact during the transcription initiation pathway.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Lynne McNerney ◽  
Katelyn Callies ◽  
Clare Kai Cimperman ◽  
Priya Chittur ◽  
Raashi Sreenivasan ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhas C Bera ◽  
Pim P. B. America ◽  
Santeri Maatsola ◽  
Mona Seifert ◽  
Eugeniu Ostrofet ◽  
...  

Transcription initiation is the first step in gene expression, and is therefore strongly regulated in all domains of life. The RNA polymerase (RNAP) first associates with the initiation factor σ to form a holoenzyme, which binds, bends and opens the promoter in a succession of reversible states. These states are critical for transcription regulation, but remain poorly understood. Here, we addressed the mechanism of open complex formation by monitoring its assembly/disassembly kinetics on individual consensus lacUV5 promoters using high – throughput single-molecule magnetic tweezers. We probed the key protein – DNA interactions governing the open-complex formation and dissociation pathway by modulating the dynamics at different concentrations of monovalent salts and varying temperatures. Consistent with ensemble studies, we observed that RPO is a stable, slowly reversible state that is preceded by a kinetically significant open intermediate (RPI), from which the holoenzyme dissociates. A strong anion concentration and type dependence indicates that the RPO stabilization may involve sequence – independent interactions between the DNA and the holoenzyme, driven by a non – Coulombic effect consistent with the non-template DNA strand interacting with σ and the RNAP β subunit. The temperature dependence provides the energy scale of open complex formation and further supports the existence of additional intermediates.


2004 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Davis ◽  
M. W. Capp ◽  
M. T. Record ◽  
R. M. Saecker

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