title: Two forms of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase alpha subunit in streptomycetes.
abstract: We demonstrated two different DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) alpha subunits in spores of Streptomyces granaticolor with apparent molecular masses of 40 and 43 kDa. The 43-kDa subunit was also found in vegetative cells. These two proteins are highly similar to each other as well as to other bacterial RNAP alpha subunits. The 40-kDa subunit is shortened from its C-terminus, in the portion of the protein, required for binding of DNA and transcription regulators. The gene for RNAP alpha from S. granaticolor was cloned and sequenced and the corresponding protein was overproduced in Escherichia coli. In vitro experiments using purified RNAP alpha showed that the cell free extract from spores of S. granaticolor exhibits proteolytic activity responsible for the alpha subunit shortening, whereas that from vegetative cells does not. This modification of alpha subunit might point to a novel mechanism of transcriptional control in streptomycetes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, MBU AV CR, Prague, Czech Republic. lucinka@biomed.cas.cz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Najmanová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janata
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalousek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Novák
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Felsberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spízek
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000201:enzymology; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000201:enzymology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C113275:RNA polymerase alpha subunit