title: Transcription regulation by initiating NTP concentration: rRNA synthesis in bacteria.
abstract: The sequence of a promoter determines not only the efficiency with which it forms a complex with RNA polymerase, but also the concentration of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) required for initiating transcription. Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA (rrn P1) promoters require high initiating NTP concentrations for efficient transcription because they form unusually short-lived complexes with RNA polymerase; high initiating NTP concentrations [adenosine or guanosine triphosphate (ATP or GTP), depending on the rrn P1 promoter] are needed to bind to and stabilize the open complex. ATP and GTP concentrations, and therefore rrn P1 promoter activity, increase with growth rate. Because ribosomal RNA transcription determines the rate of ribosome synthesis, the control of ribosomal RNA transcription by NTP concentration provides a molecular explanation for the growth rate-dependent control and homeostatic regulation of ribosome synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaal
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Turnbough
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gourse
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006207:Half-Life; D006706:Homeostasis; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D012407:rRNA Operon
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate