Regulatory sequences in sigma 54 localise near the start of DNA melting.

:Transcription initiation by the enhancer-dependent sigma(54) RNA polymerase holoenzyme is positively regulated after promoter binding. The promoter DNA melting process is subject to activation by an enhancer-bound activator protein with nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis activity. Tethered iron chelate probes attached to amino and carboxyl-terminal domains of sigma(54) were used to map sigma(54)-DNA interaction sites. The two domains localise to form a centre over the -12 promoter region. The use of deletion mutants of sigma(54) suggests that amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal sequences are both needed for the centre to function. Upon activation, the relationship between the centre and promoter DNA changes. We suggest that the activator re-organises the centre to favour stable open complex formation through adjustments in sigma(54)-DNA contact and sigma(54) conformation. The centre is close to the active site of the RNA polymerase and includes sigma(54) regulatory sequences needed for DNA melting upon activation. This contrasts systems where activators recruit RNA polymerase to promoter DNA, and the protein and DNA determinants required for activation localise away from promoter sequences closely associated with the start of DNA melting.

Wigneshweraraj SR ，Chaney MK ，Ishihama A ，Buck M ... -  《JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY》

Sequences in sigma(54) region I required for binding to early melted DNA and their involvement in sigma-DNA isomerisation.

The bacterial sigma(54) RNA polymerase functions in a transcription activation mechanism that fully relies upon nucleotide hydrolysis by an enhancer binding activator protein to stimulate open complex formation. Here, we describe results of DNA-binding assays used to probe the role of the sigma(54) amino terminal region I in activation. Of the 15 region I alanine substitution mutants assayed, several specifically failed to bind to a DNA structure representing an early conformation in DNA melting. The same mutants are defective in activated transcription and in forming an isomerised sigma-DNA complex on the early opened DNA. The mechanism of activation may therefore require tight binding of sigma(54) to particular early melted DNA structures. Where mutant sigma(54) binding to early melted DNA was detected, activator-dependent isomerisation generally occurred as efficiently as with the wild-type protein, suggesting that certain region I sequences are largely uninvolved in sigma isomerisation. DNA-binding, sigma isomerisation and transcription activation assays allow formulation of a functional map of region I.

Gallegos MT ，Buck M 《JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY》

Isomerization of a binary sigma-promoter DNA complex by transcription activators.

Cannon WV ，Gallegos MT ，Buck M 《-》

Beta subunit residues 186-433 and 436-445 are commonly used by Esigma54 and Esigma70 RNA polymerase for open promoter complex formation.

During transcription initiation by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) promoter DNA has to be melted locally to allow the synthesis of RNA transcript. Localized melting of promoter DNA is a target for genetic regulation and is poorly understood at the molecular level. The Escherichia coli RNAP holoenzyme is a six-subunit (alpha(2)betabeta'omegasigma; Esigma) protein complex. The sigma subunit is directly responsible for promoter recognition and contributes to localized DNA melting. Mutations in the beta subunit have profound effects on promoter melting by Esigma70. The sigma54 subunit is a representative of an unrelated class of the sigma subunits. Here, we determined whether mutations in the beta subunit that affect late stages of promoter complex formation by Esigma70 also influence promoter complex formation by the enhancer-dependent Esigma54. Analyses of in vitro defects in promoter complex formation and transcription initiation exhibited by mutant Esigma54 suggest that during promoter complex formation by Esigma54 and Esigma70 a common set of beta subunit sequences is used. Late stages of promoter complex formation and localized melting of promoter DNA by Esigma70 and Esigma54 thus proceed through a common pathway.

Wigneshweraraj SR ，Nechaev S ，Severinov K ，Buck M ... -  《JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY》

Domain 1.1 of the sigma(70) subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase modulates the formation of stable polymerase/promoter complexes.

The sigma 70 (sigma(70)) subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase specifies transcription from promoters that are responsible for basal gene expression during vegetative growth. When sigma(70) is present within polymerase holoenzyme, two of its domains, 2.4 and 4.2, interact with sequences within the -10 and -35 regions, respectively, of promoter DNA. However, in free sigma(70), DNA binding is prevented by domain 1.1, the N-terminal domain of the protein. Previous work has demonstrated that the presence of domain 1.1 is required for efficient transcription initiation at the lambda promoter P(R). To investigate whether this is a general property of domain 1.1, we have used five promoters to compare polymerases with and without domain 1.1 in in vitro transcription assays, and in assays assessing the formation and decay of stable, pretranscription complexes. We find that the absence of domain 1.1 does not render the polymerase defective at all of these promoters. Depending on the promoter, the absence of domain 1.1 can promote or inhibit transcription initiation by affecting the formation of stable pretranscription complexes. However, domain 1.1 does not affect the stability of these complexes once they are formed. For polymerases containing domain 1.1, the efficiency of stable complex formation correlates with how well the -10 and -35 regions of a promoter match the ideal sigma(70) recognition sequences. However, when domain 1.1 is absent, having this match becomes less important in determining how efficiently stable complexes are made. We suggest that domain 1.1 influences initiation by constraining polymerase to assess a promoter primarily by the fitness of its -10 and -35 regions to the canonical sequences.

Vuthoori S ，Bowers CW ，McCracken A ，Dombroski AJ ，Hinton DM ... -  《JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY》