title: Crystal structure of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase at 3.3 A resolution.
abstract: The crystal structure of T7 RNA polymerase reveals a molecule organized around a cleft that can accommodate a double-stranded DNA template. A portion (approximately 45%) of the molecule displays extensive structural homology to the polymerase domain of Klenow fragment and more limited homology to the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. A comparison of the structures and sequences of these polymerases identifies structural elements that may be responsible for discriminating between ribonucleotide and deoxyribonucleotide substrates, and RNA and DNA templates. The relative locations of the catalytic site and a specific promoter recognition residue allow the orientation of the polymerase on the template to be defined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017123:Bacteriophage T7 / Q000201:enzymology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D003460:Crystallization; D004256:DNA Polymerase I / Q000737:chemistry; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry*; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; C062210:bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004256:DNA Polymerase I