scholarly journals Effect of A(n) tracts within the UP element proximal subsite of a model promoter on kinetics of open complex formation by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

2002 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona K Kolasa ◽  
Tomasz Loziński ◽  
Kazimierz L Wierzchowski
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Dna Bending ◽  
Proximal Part ◽  
Order Rate Constant ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Sigma 70 ◽  
Kinetics Of

In the open transcription complex (RPo), Escherichia coli RNA polymerase sigma(70) and alpha subunits are known to be in contact with each other and with the promoter region overlapping the -35 hexamer and the proximal part of the UP element. To probe the effect of A(n) DNA bending tracts in this region on initiation of transcription, kinetics of the formation of RPo by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at two groups of synthetic consensus-like promoters bearing single DNA bending tracts (i). A(5 )within the proximal subsite region of the UP element (promoters Pk and Pl) and (ii). A(5)(Pg) or A(8)(Pm) in the region including the downstream end of the proximal UP subsite and the -35 consensus hexamer was studied in vitro using the fluorescence-detected abortive initiation assay. The kinetic data obtained demonstrate that the overall second-order rate constant k(a) of RPo formation is: (i.by almost one order of magnitude larger at Pk and Pl, relative to that at a control unbent promoter, and mainly due to a higher value of the equilibrium constant, K(1), of the initial closed complex; and (ii). several-fold smaller at Pg and Pm owing to a strongly decreased value of K(1). For Pm, the latter parameter was found to be dependent exponentially on four Mg(2+) ions, as compared with the seven ions remaining in equilibrium with the initial closed complex at the parent Pa promoter. This indicates that promoter region bearing a stiff A(8).T(8) fragment of B -DNA forms a smaller number of ionic contacts with the alpha subunit. These findings provide a new insight to and support the present model of interactions between RNA polymerase alpha and sigma(70) subunits with the proximal UP subsite and the -35 region of promoters.

scholarly journals Effects of distortions by A-tracts of promoter B-DNA spacer region on the kinetics of open complex formation by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

2003 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona K Kolasa ◽  
Tomasz Łoziński ◽  
Kazimierz L Wierzchowski
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Structural Morphology ◽  
Promoter Dna ◽  
Sigma Subunit ◽  
Kinetics Of

A-tracts in DNA due to their structural morphology distinctly different from the canonical B-DNA form play an important role in specific recognition of bacterial upstream promoter elements by the carboxyl terminal domain of RNA polymerase alpha subunit and, in turn, in the process of transcription initiation. They are only rarely found in the spacer promoter regions separating the -35 and -10 recognition hexamers. At present, the nature of the protein-DNA contacts formed between RNA polymerase and promoter DNA in transcription initiation can only be inferred from low resolution structural data and mutational and crosslinking experiments. To probe these contacts further, we constructed derivatives of a model Pa promoter bearing in the spacer region one or two An (n = 5 or 6) tracts, in phase with the DNA helical repeat, and studied the effects of thereby induced perturbation of promoter DNA structure on the kinetics of open complex (RPo) formation in vitro by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. We found that the overall second-order rate constant ka of RPo formation, relative to that at the control promoter, was strongly reduced by one to two orders of magnitude only when the A-tracts were located in the nontemplate strand. A particularly strong 30-fold down effect on ka was exerted by nontemplate A-tracts in the -10 extended promoter region, where an involvement of nontemplate TG (-14, -15) sequence in a specific interaction with region 3 of sigma-subunit is postulated. A-tracts in the latter location caused also 3-fold slower isomerization of the first closed transcription complex into the intermediate one that precedes formation of RPo, and led to two-fold faster dissociation of the latter. All these findings are discussed in relation to recent structural and kinetic models of RPo formation.

scholarly journals A Positive cis-Acting DNA Element Is Required for High-Level Transcription in Chlamydia

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (18) ◽  
pp. 5167-5171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris S. Schaumburg ◽  
Ming Tan
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Transcription Assay ◽  
Cis Acting ◽  
E Coli ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT The spacer A/T region is a positive cis-acting DNA element that was identified in the Chlamydia trachomatisrRNA promoter region. We have now demonstrated that similar sequences in other chlamydial promoters are important for transcription. Substitution of candidate spacer A/T regions in four chlamydial promoters decreased transcription by partially purified C. trachomatis RNA polymerase in an in vitro transcription assay. Addition of a spacer A/T region to the dnaK promoter, which does not contain an identifiable spacer A/T region, increased transcription 16-fold. Transcription of Escherichia colipromoters by C. trachomatis RNA polymerase also appeared to be dependent on the spacer A/T region. However, the effect of the spacer A/T region on transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase was small. In summary, the spacer A/T region is a novel DNA element that is required for high-level transcription of many promoters by chlamydial RNA polymerase.

scholarly journals Properties of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase from a strain devoid of the stringent response alarmone ppGpp.

2008 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Szalewska-Pałasz
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Stringent Response ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Complex Stability ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Guanosine Tetraphosphate ◽  
Sigma 70 ◽  
In Vitro Performance

The stringent response alarmone guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) affects transcription from many promoters. ppGpp binds directly to the transcription enzyme of Escherichia coli, RNA polymerase. Analysis of the crystal structure of RNA polymerase with ppGpp suggested that binding of this nucleotide may result in some conformational or post-translational alterations to the enzyme. These changes might affect in vitro performance of the enzyme. Here, a comparison of the in vitro properties of RNA polymerases isolated from wild type and ppGpp-deficient bacteria shows that both enzymes do not differ in i) transcription activity of various promoters (e.g. sigma(70)-rrnB P1, lambdapL, T7A1), ii) response to ppGpp, iii) promoter-RNA polymerase open complex stability. Thus, it may be concluded that ppGpp present in the bacterial cell prior to purification of the RNA polymerase does not result in the alterations to the enzyme that could be permanent and affect its in vitro transcription capacity.

scholarly journals Interaction of sigma factor σN with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase core enzyme

2000 ◽  
Vol 352 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. SCOTT ◽  
Anna L. FERGUSON ◽  
María-Trinidad GALLEGOS ◽  
Melinda PITT ◽  
Martin BUCK ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Sigma Factor ◽  
Analytical Ultracentrifugation ◽  
Spectroscopic Properties ◽  
Sedimentation Equilibrium ◽  
Equilibrium Binding ◽  
Kinetics Of

The equilibrium binding and kinetics of assembly of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) σN-holoenzyme has been investigated using biosynthetically labelled 7-azatryptophyl- (7AW)σN. The spectroscopic properties of such 7AW proteins allows their absorbance and fluorescence to be monitored selectively, even in the presence of high concentrations of other tryptophan-containing proteins. The 7AWσN retained its biological activity in stimulating transcription from σN-specific promoters, and in in vitro gel electrophoresis assays of binding to core RNAP from Escherichia coli. Furthermore, five Trp → Ala single mutants of σN were shown to support growth under conditions of nitrogen limitation, and showed comparable efficiency in activating the σN-dependent nifH promoter in vivo, indicating that none of the tryptophan residues were essential for activity. The equilibrium binding of 7AWσN to core RNAP was examined by analytical ultracentrifugation. In sedimentation equilibrium experiments, absorbance data at 315nm (which reports selectively on the distribution of free and bound 7AWσN) established that a 1:1 complex was formed, with a dissociation constant lower than 2µM. The kinetics of the interaction between 7AWσN and core RNAP was investigated using stopped-flow spectrofluorimetry. A biphasic decrease in fluorescence intensity was observed when samples were excited at 280nm, whereas only the slower of the two phases was observed at 315nm. The kinetic data were analysed in terms of a mechanism in which a fast bimolecular association of σN with core RNAP is followed by a relatively slow isomerization step. The consequences of these findings on the competition between σN and the major sigma factor, σ70, in Escherichia coli are discussed.

scholarly journals Mg2+ does not induce isomerization of the open transcription complex of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at the model Pa promoter bearing consensus -10 and -35 hexamers.

2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 985-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
I K Kolasa ◽  
T Loziński ◽  
K L Wierzchowski
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Dna Bending ◽  
Reaction Model ◽  
Dissociation Rate ◽  
Kinetics And Thermodynamics ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Mgcl2 Concentration

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the formation of the transcriptional open complex (RPo) by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at the synthetic Pa promoter bearing consensus -10 and -35 recognition hexamers were studied in vitro. Previously, this promoter was used as a control one in studies on the effect of DNA bending by An x Tn sequences on transcription initiation and shown to be fully functional in E. coli (Loziński et al., 1991, Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 2947; Loziński & Wierzchowski, 1996, Acta Biochim. Polon. 43, 265). The data now obtained demonstrate that the mechanism of Pa-RPo formation and dissociation conforms to the three-step reaction model: bind-nucleate-melt, commonly accepted for natural promoters. Measurements of the dissociation rate constant of Pa-RPo as a function of MgCl2 concentration allowed us to determine the number of Mg2+ ions, nMg approximately/= 4, being bound to the RPo in the course of renaturation of the melted DNA region. This number was found constant in the temperature range of 25-37 degrees C, which indicates that under these conditions the complex remaines fully open. This observation, taken together with the recent evidence from KMnO4 footprinting studies that the length of the melted region in Pa-RPo at 37 degrees C is independent of the presence of Mg2+ ions (Lozinski & Wierzchowski, 2001, Acta Biochim. Polon. 48, 495), testifies that binding of Mg2+ to RPo does not induce its further isomerization, which has been postulated for the lambdaP(R)-RPo complex (Suh et al., 1992, Biochemistry 31, 7815; 1993, Science 259, 358).

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