title: Phage N4 RNA polymerase II recruitment to DNA by a single-stranded DNA-binding protein.
abstract: Transcription of bacteriophage N4 middle genes is carried out by a phage-coded, heterodimeric RNA polymerase (N4 RNAPII), which belongs to the family of T7-like RNA polymerases. In contrast to phage T7-RNAP, N4 RNAPII displays no activity on double-stranded templates and low activity on single-stranded templates. In vivo, at least one additional N4-coded protein (p17) is required for N4 middle transcription. We show that N4 ORF2 encodes p17 (gp2). Characterization of purified gp2revealed that it is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein that activates N4 RNAPII transcription on single-stranded DNA templates through specific interaction with N4 RNAPII. On the basis of the properties of the proteins involved in N4 RNAPII transcription and of middle promoters, we propose a model for N4 RNAPII promoter recognition, in which gp2plays two roles, stabilization of a single-stranded region at the promoter and recruitment of N4 RNAPII through gp2-N4 RNAPII interactions. Furthermore, we discuss our results in the context of transcription initiation by mitochondrial RNA polymerases.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Demidenko
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hattingh-Willis
authors.forename: Lucia B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rothman-Denes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D025522:Bacteriophage N4 / Q000201:enzymology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II