Site-specific aptamer inhibitors of Thermus RNA polymerase
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov sq. 2, Moscow 123182 (Russian Federation)
- The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 (United States)
Highlights: • ssDNA aptamers recognize specific epitopes of Thermus aquaticus core RNA polymerase. • Aptamers sense RNA polymerase interactions with transcription factors and antibiotics. • Aptamers inhibit transcriptional activity of the RNA polymerase core enzyme. Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) is an RNA-synthesizing molecular machine and a target for antibiotics. In transcription, RNAP can interact with DNA sequence-specifically, during promoter recognition by the σ-containing holoenzyme, or nonspecifically, during productive RNA elongation by the core RNAP. We describe high-affinity single-stranded DNA aptamers that are specifically recognized by the core RNAP from Thermus aquaticus. The aptamers interact with distinct epitopes inside the RNAP main channel, including the rifamycin pocket, and sense the binding of other RNAP ligands such as rifamycin and the σ{sup A} subunit. The aptamers inhibit RNAP activity and can thus be used for functional studies of transcription and development of novel RNAP inhibitors.
- OSTI ID:
- 23134089
- Journal Information:
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Vol. 495, Issue 1; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0006-291X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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