title: Bacteriophage lambda promoters pL and pR: sequence determinants of in vivo activity and of sensitivity to the DNA gyrase inhibitor, coumermycin.
abstract: Sequence encompassing the region between bp -43 and +8 of the pL and pR promoters of bacteriophage lambda, as well as sequence variants of these promoters, were compared with respect to their ability to drive a promoterless cat gene in vivo. For both pL- and pR-based promoters, variants with one nonconsensus bp rather than the consensus promoter were found to be maximally active. Determination of promoter function in CSH26 and C600 revealed a marked strain dependence in the activity of some promoter variants. In response to the antibiotic coumermycin, which effects a reduction in DNA superhelical density in vivo, promoters were found to be activated, inhibited or unaffected, depending on their sequence. No simple correlation between a particular response and sequence features of a promoter has become apparent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kincade
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: deHaseth
mesh_terms: D049933:Aminocoumarins; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D003374:Coumarins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
chemical_list: D049933:Aminocoumarins; D003374:Coumarins; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; C004628:coumermycin