Abstract
The interactions between the σ54-containing RNA polymerase (σ54-RNAP) and the region of the Pseudomonas putida Pu promoter spanning from the enhancer to the binding site for the integration host factor (IHF) were analyzed both by DNase I and hydroxyl radical footprinting. A short Pu region centered at position -104 was found to be involved in the interaction with σ54-RNAP, both in the absence and in the presence of IHF protein. Deletion or scrambling of the -104 region strongly reduced promoter affinity in vitro and promoter activity in vivo, respectively. The reduction in promoter affinity coincided with the loss of IHF-mediated recruitment of the σ54-RNAP in vitro. The experiments with oriented-α σ54-RNAP derivatives containing bound chemical nuclease revealed interchangeable positioning of only one of the two α subunit carboxyl-terminal domains (αCTDs) both at the -104 region and in the surroundings of position -78. The addition of IHF resulted in perfect position symmetry of the two αCTDs. These results indicate that, in the absence of IHF, the σ54-RNAP asymmetrically uses only one αCTD subunit to establish productive contacts with upstream sequences of the Pu promoter. In the presence of IHF-induced curvature, the closer proximity of the upstream DNA to the body of the σ54-RNAP can allow the other αCTD to be engaged in and thus favor closed complex formation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 27695-27702 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Biological Chemistry |
Volume | 278 |
Issue number | 30 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 25 2003 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology