scholarly journals Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase Recognition of a σ70-Dependent Promoter Requiring a −35 DNA Element and an Extended −10 TGn Motif

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (24) ◽  
pp. 8352-8359 ◽  
Author(s):  
India Hook-Barnard ◽  
Xanthia B. Johnson ◽  
Deborah M. Hinton

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli σ70-dependent promoters have typically been characterized as either −10/−35 promoters, which have good matches to both the canonical −10 and the −35 sequences or as extended −10 promoters (TGn/−10 promoters), which have the TGn motif and an excellent match to the −10 consensus sequence. We report here an investigation of a promoter, Pminor, that has a nearly perfect match to the −35 sequence and has the TGn motif. However, Pminor contains an extremely poor σ70 −10 element. We demonstrate that Pminor is active both in vivo and in vitro and that mutations in either the −35 or the TGn motif eliminate its activity. Mutation of the TGn motif can be compensated for by mutations that make the −10 element more canonical, thus converting the −35/TGn promoter to a −35/−10 promoter. Potassium permanganate footprinting on the nontemplate and template strands indicates that when polymerase is in a stable (open) complex with Pminor, the DNA is single stranded from positions −11 to +4. We also demonstrate that transcription from Pminor incorporates nontemplated ribonucleoside triphosphates at the 5′ end of the Pminor transcript, which results in an anomalous assignment for the start site when primer extension analysis is used. Pminor represents one of the few −35/TGn promoters that have been characterized and serves as a model for investigating functional differences between these promoters and the better-characterized −10/−35 and extended −10 promoters used by E. coli RNA polymerase.

1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (3) ◽  
pp. 893-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Prost ◽  
Didier Nègre ◽  
Christelle Oudot ◽  
Katsuhiko Murakami ◽  
Akira Ishihama ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The icd gene of Escherichia coli, encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase, was shown to be expressed from two different promoters: the previously identified icd P1 and a newly detected second promoter, icd P2, whose expression is positively regulated by the catabolite repressor-activator protein Cra, formerly called FruR. In each case, we determined the mRNA start site by primer extension analysis of in vivo transcripts and examined the interaction of the icd control region with either RNA polymerase or Cra. We observed that (i) the Cra factor binds to and activates transcription from a site centered at position −76.5 within the icd P2 promoter region and (ii) three particular mutations in the C-terminal end of the α subunit of RNA polymerase (L262A, R265A, and N268A) considerably diminish transcription initiating from the icd P2 promoter, as shown by in vitro experiments performed in the presence of mutant RNA polymerases carrying Ala substitutions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (10) ◽  
pp. 3434-3443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umender K. Sharma ◽  
Dipankar Chatterji

ABSTRACT Anti-sigma factors Escherichia coli Rsd and bacteriophage T4 AsiA bind to the essential housekeeping sigma factor, σ70, of E. coli. Though both factors are known to interact with the C-terminal region of σ70, the physiological consequences of these interactions are very different. This study was undertaken for the purpose of deciphering the mechanisms by which E. coli Rsd and bacteriophage T4 AsiA inhibit or modulate the activity of E. coli RNA polymerase, which leads to the inhibition of E. coli cell growth to different amounts. It was found that AsiA is the more potent inhibitor of in vivo transcription and thus causes higher inhibition of E. coli cell growth. Measurements of affinity constants by surface plasmon resonance experiments showed that Rsd and AsiA bind to σ70 with similar affinity. Data obtained from in vivo and in vitro binding experiments clearly demonstrated that the major difference between AsiA and Rsd is the ability of AsiA to form a stable ternary complex with RNA polymerase. The binding patterns of AsiA and Rsd with σ70 studied by using the yeast two-hybrid system revealed that region 4 of σ70 is involved in binding to both of these anti-sigma factors; however, Rsd interacts with other regions of σ70 as well. Taken together, these results suggest that the higher inhibition of E. coli growth by AsiA expression is probably due to the ability of the AsiA protein to trap the holoenzyme RNA polymerase rather than its higher binding affinity to σ70.


1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. MacGregor ◽  
Russell K. Karls ◽  
Timothy J. Donohue

ABSTRACT These experiments sought to identify what form of RNA polymerase transcribes the P1 promoter for the Rhodobacter sphaeroidescytochrome c 2 gene (cycA). In vitro, cycA P1 was recognized by an RNA polymerase holoenzyme fraction that transcribes several well-characterizedEscherichia coli heat shock (ς32) promoters. The in vivo effects of mutations flanking the transcription initiation site (+1) also suggested that cycA P1 was recognized by an RNA polymerase similar to E. coli Eς32. Function of cycA P1 was not altered by mutations more than 35 bp upstream of position +1 or by alterations downstream of −7. A point mutation at position −34 that is towards the E. coliEς32 −35 consensus sequence (G34T) increasedcycA P1 activity ∼20-fold, while several mutations that reduced or abolished promoter function changed highly conserved bases in presumed −10 or −35 elements. In addition, cycA P1 function was retained in mutant promoters with a spacer region as short as 14 nucleotides. When either wild-type or G34T promoters were incubated with reconstituted RNA polymerase holoenzymes,cycA P1 transcription was observed only with samples containing either a 37-kDa subunit that is a member of the heat shock sigma factor family (Eς37) or a 38-kDa subunit that also allows core RNA polymerase to recognize E. coli heat shock promoters (Eς38) (R. K. Karls, J. Brooks, P. Rossmeissl, J. Luedke, and T. J. Donohue, J. Bacteriol. 180:10–19, 1998).


2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (20) ◽  
pp. 6126-6134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio E. Cabrera ◽  
Ding Jun Jin

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli rapA gene encodes the RNA polymerase (RNAP)-associated protein RapA, which is a bacterial member of the SWI/SNF helicase-like protein family. We have studied therapA promoter and its regulation in vivo and determined the interaction between RNAP and the promoter in vitro. We have found that the expression of rapA is growth phase dependent, peaking at the early log phase. The growth phase control ofrapA is determined at least by one particular feature of the promoter: it uses CTP as the transcription-initiating nucleotide instead of a purine, which is used for most E. colipromoters. We also found that the rapA promoter is subject to growth rate regulation in vivo and that it forms intrinsic unstable initiation complexes with RNAP in vitro. Furthermore, we have shown that a GC-rich or discriminator sequence between the −10 and +1 positions of the rapA promoter is responsible for its growth rate control and the instability of its initiation complexes with RNAP.


Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (9) ◽  
pp. 2838-2844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Castiglione ◽  
Serena Rinaldo ◽  
Giorgio Giardina ◽  
Francesca Cutruzzolà

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-known pathogen in chronic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Infectivity of P. aeruginosa is related to the ability to grow under oxygen-limited conditions using the anaerobic metabolism of denitrification, in which nitrate is reduced to dinitrogen via nitric oxide (NO). Denitrification is activated by a cascade of redox-sensitive transcription factors, among which is the DNR regulator, sensitive to nitrogen oxides. To gain further insight into the mechanism of NO-sensing by DNR, we have developed an Escherichia coli-based reporter system to investigate different aspects of DNR activity. In E. coli DNR responds to NO, as shown by its ability to transactivate the P. aeruginosa norCB promoter. The direct binding of DNR to the target DNA is required, since mutations in the helix–turn–helix domain of DNR and specific nucleotide substitutions in the consensus sequence of the norCB promoter abolish the transcriptional activity. Using an E. coli strain deficient in haem biosynthesis, we have also confirmed that haem is required in vivo for the NO-dependent DNR activity, in agreement with the property of DNR to bind haem in vitro. Finally, we have shown, we believe for the first time, that DNR is able to discriminate in vivo between different diatomic signal molecules, NO and CO, both ligands of the reduced haem iron in vitro, suggesting that DNR responds specifically to NO.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (10) ◽  
pp. 3185-3192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesna Yigit ◽  
William S. Reznikoff

ABSTRACT Tn5 transposase (Tnp) overproduction is lethal toEscherichia coli. Genetic evidence suggested that this killing involves titration of E. coli topoisomerase I (Topo I). Here, we present biochemical evidence that supports this model. Tn5 Tnp copurifies with Topo I while nonkilling derivatives of Tnp, Δ37Tnp and Δ55Tnp (Inhibitor [Inh]), show reduced affinity or no affinity, respectively, for Topo I. In agreement with these results, the presence of Tnp, but not Δ37 or Inh derivatives of Tnp, inhibits the DNA relaxation activity of Topo I in vivo as well as in vitro. Other proteins, including RNA polymerase, are also found to copurify with Tnp. For RNA polymerase, reduced copurification with Tnp is observed in extracts from a topA mutant strain, suggesting that RNA polymerase interacts with Topo I and not Tnp.


1998 ◽  
Vol 180 (9) ◽  
pp. 2395-2401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz Narberhaus ◽  
Michael Kowarik ◽  
Christoph Beck ◽  
Hauke Hennecke

ABSTRACT Expression of the dnaKJ andgroESL 1 heat shock operons ofBradyrhizobium japonicum depends on a ς32-like transcription factor. Three such factors (RpoH1, RpoH2, and RpoH3) have previously been identified in this organism. We report here that they direct transcription from some but not all ς32-type promoters when the respective rpoH genes are expressed inEscherichia coli. All three RpoH factors were purified as soluble C-terminally histidine-tagged proteins, although the bulk of overproduced RpoH3 was insoluble. The purified proteins were recognized by an anti-E. coli ς32 serum. While RpoH1 and RpoH2 productively interacted with E. coli core RNA polymerase and produced E. coli groE transcript in vitro, RpoH3 was unable to do so.B. japonicum core RNA polymerase was prepared and reconstituted with the RpoH proteins. Again, RpoH1 and RpoH2 were active, and they initiated transcription at theB. japonicum groESL 1 and dnaKJpromoters. In all cases, the in vitro start site was shown to be identical to the start site determined in vivo. Promoter competition experiments revealed that the B. japonicum dnaKJ andgroESL 1 promoters were suboptimal for transcription by RpoH1- or RpoH2-containing RNA polymerase from B. japonicum. In a mixture of different templates, the E. coli groESL promoter was preferred over any other promoter. Differences were observed in the specificities of both sigma factors toward B. japonicum rpoH-dependent promoters. We conclude that the primary function of RpoH2is to supply the cell with DnaKJ under normal growth conditions whereas RpoH1 is responsible mainly for increasing the level of GroESL1 after a heat shock.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (12) ◽  
pp. 3864-3868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Ross ◽  
Julia Salomon ◽  
Walter M. Holmes ◽  
Richard L. Gourse

ABSTRACT The transcription factor FIS has been implicated in the regulation of several stable RNA promoters, including that for the major tRNALeu species in Escherichia coli, tRNA1 Leu. However, no evidence for direct involvement of FIS in tRNA1 Leu expression has been reported. We show here that FIS binds to a site upstream of the leuVpromoter (centered at −71) and that it directly stimulatesleuV transcription in vitro. A mutation in the FIS binding site reduces transcription from a leuV promoter in strains containing FIS but has no effect on transcription in strains lacking FIS, indicating that FIS contributes to leuV expression in vivo. We also find that RNA polymerase forms an unusual heparin-sensitive complex with the leuV promoter, having a downstream protection boundary of ∼−7, and that the first two nucleotides of the transcript, GTP and UTP, are required for formation of a heparin-stable complex that extends downstream of the transcription start site. These studies have implications for the regulation of leuV transcription.


2002 ◽  
Vol 184 (14) ◽  
pp. 3808-3814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melicent C. Peck ◽  
Tamas Gaal ◽  
Robert F. Fisher ◽  
Richard L. Gourse ◽  
Sharon R. Long

ABSTRACT Sinorhizobium meliloti, a gram-negative soil bacterium, forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiotic relationship with members of the legume family. To facilitate our studies of transcription in S. meliloti, we cloned and characterized the gene for the α subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP). S. meliloti rpoA encodes a 336-amino-acid, 37-kDa protein. Sequence analysis of the region surrounding rpoA identified six open reading frames that are found in the conserved gene order secY (SecY)-adk (Adk)-rpsM (S13)-rpsK (S11)-rpoA (α)-rplQ (L17) found in the α-proteobacteria. In vivo, S. meliloti rpoA expressed in Escherichia coli complemented a temperature sensitive mutation in E. coli rpoA, demonstrating that S. meliloti α supports RNAP assembly, sequence-specific DNA binding, and interaction with transcriptional activators in the context of E. coli. In vitro, we reconstituted RNAP holoenzyme from S. meliloti α and E. coli β, β′, and σ subunits. Similar to E. coli RNAP, the hybrid RNAP supported transcription from an E. coli core promoter and responded to both upstream (UP) element- and Fis-dependent transcription activation. We obtained similar results using purified RNAP from S. meliloti. Our results demonstrate that S. meliloti α functions are conserved in heterologous host E. coli even though the two α subunits are only 51% identical. The ability to utilize E. coli as a heterologous system in which to study the regulation of S. meliloti genes could provide an important tool for our understanding and manipulation of these processes.


1987 ◽  
Vol 248 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Charlier ◽  
R Sanchez

In contrast with most aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, the lysyl-tRNA synthetase of Escherichia coli is coded for by two genes, the normal lysS gene and the inducible lysU gene. During its purification from E. coli K12, lysyl-tRNA synthetase was monitored by its aminoacylation and adenosine(5′)tetraphospho(5′)adenosine (Ap4A) synthesis activities. Ap4A synthesis was measured by a new assay using DEAE-cellulose filters. The heterogeneity of lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) was revealed on hydroxyapatite; we focused on the first peak, LysRS1, because of its higher Ap4A/lysyl-tRNA activity ratio at that stage. Additional differences between LysRS1 and LysRS2 (major peak on hydroxyapatite) were collected. LysRS1 was eluted from phosphocellulose in the presence of the substrates, whereas LysRS2 was not. Phosphocellulose chromatography was used to show the increase of LysRS1 in cells submitted to heat shock. Also, the Mg2+ optimum in the Ap4A-synthesis reaction is much higher for LysRS1. LysRS1 showed a higher thermostability, which was specifically enhanced by Zn2+. These results in vivo and in vitro strongly suggest that LysRS1 is the heat-inducible lysU-gene product.


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