title: Transcription activation at promoters carrying tandem DNA sites for the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein: organisation of the RNA polymerase alpha subunits.
abstract: We have constructed a family of promoters carrying tandem DNA sites for the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), with one of the sites centred between base-pairs 41 and 42 upstream from the transcription start site, and the second site located further upstream. In vivo activity measurements show that the activity of these promoters is completely dependent on CRP and that, depending on the precise location, CRP bound at the upstream site increases transcription activation. Hydroxyl radical footprinting was exploited to investigate the binding of CRP and RNA polymerase holoenzyme (RNAP) to these promoters. The study shows that the C-terminal domains of the RNAP alpha subunits bind adjacent to the upstream CRP and that their precise positioning depends on the location of upstream-bound CRP. The C-terminal domains of the RNAP alpha subunits interact with both the upstream and downstream-bound CRP via activating region 1 of CRP.
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Belyaeva
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rhodius
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Busby
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002373:Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D002373:Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases