title: Sequences upstream of the-35 hexamer of rrnB P1 affect promoter strength and upstream activation.
abstract: Transcription from Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA promoters is increased about 20-fold in vivo by a DNA sequence (the Upstream Activation Region, UAR) located upstream of the -35 conserved hexamer. The UAR stimulates transcription through two mechanisms: one which involves binding of the Fis protein to the UAR, and another mechanisms which functions in the absence of additional protein factors. We have previously constructed a collection of mutations in the region upstream of the -35 hexamer of rrnB P1. Most of these mutations have either no effect on promoter activity or decrease activity 2-5-fold in vivo (Gaal, T., Barkei, J., Dickson, R.R., De Boer, H.A., De Haseth, P.L., Alavi, H. and Gourse, R.L.(1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 4852-4861). Two mutations leave both the -35 consensus hexamer and the Fis binding consensus sequence intact, yet have larger (14-50-fold) effects on transcription. One substitution just upstream of the -35 hexamer (a C to T change at position -37) primarily affects intrinsic promoter strength, leaving the UAR functional. On the other hand, a three base pair deletion (bases -38 through -40) severely reduces UAR-mediated activity. A substitution covering the three base pair deletion was constructed and found to be activated normally. UAR function appears dependent on its position relative to the RNA polymerase binding site, suggesting that a particular spatial geometry may be necessary for Fis-dependent and/or factor-independent activation to occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Josaitis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaal
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gourse
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D035021:Factor For Inversion Stimulation Protein; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D035021:Factor For Inversion Stimulation Protein; D034982:Integration Host Factors; C440502:integration host factor, E coli; D001616:beta-Galactosidase