Structure of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase a Subunit C-terminal Domain

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1107/S0907444910018470· OSTI ID:1019651

Lara-Gonzalez, S; Birktoft, J; Lawson, C

The {alpha} subunit C-terminal domain ({alpha}CTD) of RNA polymerase (RNAP) is a key element in transcription activation in Escherichia coli, possessing determinants responsible for the interaction of RNAP with DNA and with transcription factors. Here, the crystal structure of E. coli {alpha}CTD ({alpha} subunit residues 245-329) determined to 2.0 {angstrom} resolution is reported. Crystals were obtained after reductive methylation of the recombinantly expressed domain. The crystals belonged to space group P2{sub 1} and possessed both pseudo-translational symmetry and pseudo-merohedral twinning. The refined coordinate model (R factor = 0.193, R{sub free} = 0.236) has improved geometry compared with prior lower resolution determinations of the {alpha}CTD structure [Jeon et al. (1995), Science, 270, 1495-1497; Benoff et al. (2002), Science, 297, 1562-1566]. An extensive dimerization interface formed primarily by N- and C-terminal residues is also observed. The new coordinates will facilitate the improved modeling of {alpha}CTD-containing multi-component complexes visualized at lower resolution using X-ray crystallography and electron-microscopy reconstruction.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - OFFICE OF SCIENCE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1019651
• Report Number(s): BNL-95497-2011-JA; TRN: US201115%%291
• Journal Information: Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography, Vol. 66, Issue 7; ISSN 0907-4449
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
DIMERIZATION
DNA
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GEOMETRY
METHYLATION
RESIDUES
RESOLUTION
RNA POLYMERASES
SIMULATION
SPACE GROUPS
SYMMETRY
TRANSCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS
TWINNING
national synchrotron light source