The bridge helix coordinates movements of modules in RNA polymerase.
The RNA polymerase 'bridge helix' is a metastable α-helix that spans the leading edge of the enzyme active-site cleft. A new study published in BMC Biology reveals surprising tolerance to helix-disrupting changes in a region previously thought crucial for translocation, and suggests roles for two hinge-like segments of the bridge helix in coordinating modules that move during the nucleotide-addition cycle.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Pyae P
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Hein
Robert
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Landick
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002384:Catalysis; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000235:genetics; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics*
D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases