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Structural basis of ECF-σ-factor-dependent transcription initiation

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
Extracytoplasmic (ECF) σ factors, the largest class of alternative σ factors, are related to primary σ factors, but have simpler structures, comprising only two of six conserved functional modules in primary σ factors: region 2 (σR2) and region 4 (σR4). Here, we report crystal structures of transcription initiation complexes containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA polymerase (RNAP), M. tuberculosis ECF σ factor σL, and promoter DNA. The structures show that σR2 and σR4 of the ECF σ factor occupy the same sites on RNAP as in primary σ factors, show that the connector between σR2 and σR4 of the ECF σ factor–although shorter and unrelated in sequence–follows the same path through RNAP as in primary σ factors, and show that the ECF σ factor uses the same strategy to bind and unwind promoter DNA as primary σ factors. The results define protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions involved in ECF-σ-factor-dependent transcription initiation.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
OSTI ID:
1498332
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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Cited By (5)

Structures and mechanism of transcription initiation by bacterial ECF factors journal May 2019
RNA extension drives a stepwise displacement of an initiation-factor structural module in initial transcription journal March 2020
Deciphering the essentiality and function of the anti‐σ M factors in Bacillus subtilis journal March 2019
Where to begin? Sigma factors and the selectivity of transcription initiation in bacteria journal June 2019
Crl activates transcription by stabilizing active conformation of the master stress transcription initiation factor journal December 2019

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