Skip to main content
Nucleic Acids Research logoLink to Nucleic Acids Research
. 1980 Aug 11;8(15):3459–3466. doi: 10.1093/nar/8.15.3459

Sequence-specific interaction of sigma subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase with DNA.

W Stender
PMCID: PMC324163  PMID: 7003537

Abstract

The interaction of sigma subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase with DNA, either double or single-stranded, and with two inhibitors of RNA synthesis was investigated by using antibodies directed against the subunit. Free sigma subunit was shown to interact with poly(dA), poly(dT), poly(dAC).poly(dGT), T7 DNA and, to a lesser degree, with lambda DNA. When the sigma subunit forms part of the holo enzyme, sigma also interacts with poly(dG).poly(dC). Rifampicin and streptolydigin interact with sigma in the holo enzyme and with free and core bound sigma subunit, respectively. The results suggest that sigma recognizes mainly AC-GT-sequences in double-stranded DNA. The findings are correlated with the base composition in RNA polymerase binding regions of promoters and suggest at least a general interaction between sigma subunit and single-stranded DNA in open complexes.

Full text

PDF
3459

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chamberlin M. J. The selectivity of transcription. Annu Rev Biochem. 1974;43(0):721–775. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.43.070174.003445. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hillel Z., Wu C. W. Photochemical cross-linking studies on the interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with T7 DNA. Biochemistry. 1978 Jul 25;17(15):2954–2961. doi: 10.1021/bi00608a003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Lowe P. A., Hager D. A., Burgess R. R. Purification and properties of the sigma subunit of Escherichia coli DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Biochemistry. 1979 Apr 3;18(7):1344–1352. doi: 10.1021/bi00574a034. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Okada M., Vergne J., Brahms J. Subunit topography of RNA polymerase (E. coli) in the complex with DNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 1978 Jun;5(6):1845–1862. doi: 10.1093/nar/5.6.1845. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Rosenberg M., Court D. Regulatory sequences involved in the promotion and termination of RNA transcription. Annu Rev Genet. 1979;13:319–353. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ge.13.120179.001535. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Simpson R. B. The molecular topography of RNA polymerase-promoter interaction. Cell. 1979 Oct;18(2):277–285. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(79)90047-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Stender W. Antibodies against the subunits of E. coli RNA polymerase as probes for subunit-specific binding of DNA and other ligands. Nucleic Acids Res. 1980 Mar 25;8(6):1405–1420. doi: 10.1093/nar/8.6.1405. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Stender W., Stütz A. A., Scheit K. H. The modification of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli by an alkylating derivative of rifamycin SV. Eur J Biochem. 1975 Aug 1;56(1):129–136. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1975.tb02215.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Wu C. W., Yarbrough L. R., Hillel Z., Wu F. Y. Sigma cycle during in vitro transcription: demonstration by nanosecond fluorescence depolarization spectroscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Aug;72(8):3019–3023. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.8.3019. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Wu F. Y., Yarbrough L. R., Wu C. W. Conformational transition of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase induced by the interaction of sigma subunit with core enzyme. Biochemistry. 1976 Jul 27;15(15):3254–3258. doi: 10.1021/bi00660a014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Nucleic Acids Research are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES