title: Transcription through the roadblocks: the role of RNA polymerase cooperation.
abstract: During transcription, cellular RNA polymerases (RNAP) have to deal with numerous potential roadblocks imposed by various DNA binding proteins. Many such proteins partially or completely interrupt a single round of RNA chain elongation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that Escherichia coli RNAP can effectively read through the site-specific DNA-binding proteins in vitro and in vivo if more than one RNAP molecule is allowed to initiate from the same promoter. The anti-roadblock activity of the trailing RNAP does not require transcript cleavage activity but relies on forward translocation of roadblocked complexes. These results support a cooperation model of transcription whereby RNAP molecules behave as 'partners' helping one another to traverse intrinsic and extrinsic obstacles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Vitaly
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Epshtein
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toulmé
authors.forename: A Rachid
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rahmouni
authors.forename: Sergei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borukhov
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nudler
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D007763:Lac Operon; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases