Post-initiation control by the initiation factor sigma.
Bacterial core RNA polymerase can initiate transcription at promoters only if guided by a sigma subunit that directs the core enzyme to a subset of sigma-specific promoters. Specific and stable interactions between the promoter DNA elements and sigma are required for efficient promoter recognition. At the same time, persistent sigma-DNA contacts can hinder RNA polymerase escape from a promoter or halt the enzyme downstream from the transcription start site, thereby reducing transcription of the affected genes. This microcommentary reviews recent data arguing that sigma-dependent stalled transcription complexes form frequently in vivo, where they likely play important and diverse regulatory roles.
Artsimovitch
Irina
I
Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. artsimovitch.1@osu.edu
D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D012808:Sigma Factor; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases