title: A positive cis-acting DNA element is required for high-level transcription in Chlamydia.
abstract: The spacer A/T region is a positive cis-acting DNA element that was identified in the Chlamydia trachomatis rRNA promoter region. We have now demonstrated that similar sequences in other chlamydial promoters are important for transcription. Substitution of candidate spacer A/T regions in four chlamydial promoters decreased transcription by partially purified C. trachomatis RNA polymerase in an in vitro transcription assay. Addition of a spacer A/T region to the dnaK promoter, which does not contain an identifiable spacer A/T region, increased transcription 16-fold. Transcription of Escherichia coli promoters by C. trachomatis RNA polymerase also appeared to be dependent on the spacer A/T region. However, the effect of the spacer A/T region on transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase was small. In summary, the spacer A/T region is a novel DNA element that is required for high-level transcription of many promoters by chlamydial RNA polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92697-4025, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Schaumburg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases