title: Expression, abundance, and RNA polymerase binding properties of the delta factor of Bacillus subtilis.
abstract: The delta protein is a dispensable subunit of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase (RNAP) that has major effects on the biochemical properties of the purified enzyme. In the presence of delta, RNAP displays an increased specificity of transcription, a decreased affinity for nucleic acids, and an increased efficiency of RNA synthesis because of enhanced recycling. Despite these profound effects, a strain containing a deletion of the delta gene (rpoE) is viable and shows no major alterations in gene expression. Quantitative immunoblotting experiments demonstrate that delta is present in molar excess relative to RNAP in both vegetative cells and spores. Expression of rpoE initiates from a single, sigmaA-dependent promoter and is maximal in transition phase. A rpoE mutant strain has an altered morphology and is delayed in the exit from stationary phase. For biochemical analyses we have created derivatives of delta and sigmaA that can be radiolabeled with protein kinase A. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we demonstrate that delta binds core RNAP with an apparent affinity of 2.5 x 10(6) M-1, but we are unable to demonstrate the formation of a ternary complex containing core enzyme, delta, and sigmaA.
authors.affiliation: Section of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-8101, USA.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: López de Saro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Helmann
mesh_terms: D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050981:Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors; D012808:Sigma Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases