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. 1991 Nov 25;19(22):6113–6118. doi: 10.1093/nar/19.22.6113

Different thermal energy requirement for open complex formation by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase at two related promoters.

E Grimes 1, S Busby 1, S Minchin 1
PMCID: PMC329098  PMID: 1956770

Abstract

We have studied the effect of temperature on transcription initiation in vitro at two related promoters ga/Pcon and ga/P1, which have the same nucleotide sequence around the -10 region and transcription start site, but differ in upstream sequences. One of the promoters, ga/Pcon, carries the consensus -35 hexamer, 5'TTGACA 3', whilst ga/P1 contains a block of 'distortable' upstream sequences that allow promoter function in the absence of a -35 region consensus sequence. RNA polymerase can form complexes with both promoters at a range of temperatures. However, the thermal energy requirement for open complex formation differs: open complexes can form at ga/P1 at low temperatures, whereas ga/Pcon requires higher temperatures. The thermal energy requirement for transcription from preformed open complexes is the same for both promoters.

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Selected References

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