Visualizing the organization and reorganization of transcription complexes for gene expression.
Regulated gene expression requires control of the transcription machinery, frequently through the establishment of different functional states of the transcribing enzyme RNA polymerase and its attendant activator proteins. In bacteria, major adaptive responses use an enhancer-dependent RNA polymerase, activated for transcription by a class of ATPases that remodel initial promoter complexes to form transcriptionally proficient open promoter complexes. In the present article, we summarize the integrated use of site-specific protein cleavage and DNA cross-linking methods, as well as FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) in combination with X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to gain insight into the organization of the enhancer-dependent sigma 54-RNA polymerase and the ATPase-driven activation mechanism.
Burrows
Patricia C
PC
Division of Molecular Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Wigneshweraraj
Sivaramesh
S
Bose
Dan
D
Joly
Nicolas
N
Schumacher
Jörg
J
Rappas
Mathieu
M
Pape
Tilmann
T
Stockley
Peter G
PG
Zhang
Xiaodong
X
Buck
Martin
M
D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases