Upstream promoter sequences and alphaCTD mediate stable DNA wrapping within the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex.
We show that the extent of stable DNA wrapping by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) in the RNAP-promoter open complex depends on the sequence of the promoter and, in particular, on the sequence of the upstream region of the promoter. We further show that the extent of stable DNA wrapping depends on the presence of the RNAP alpha-subunit carboxy-terminal domain and on the presence and length of the RNAP alpha-subunit interdomain linker. Our results indicate that the extensive stable DNA wrapping observed previously in the RNAP-promoter open complex at the lambda P(R) promoter is not a general feature of RNAP-promoter open complexes.
Cellai
Sara
S
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti 23/A, 43100 Parma, Italy.
Mangiarotti
Laura
L
Vannini
Nicola
N
Naryshkin
Nikolai
N
Kortkhonjia
Ekaterine
E
Ebright
Richard H
RH
Rivetti
Claudio
C
D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C113275:RNA polymerase alpha subunit