The Structural Basis for Promoter-35 Element Recognition by the Group IV ? Factors
The control of bacterial transcription initiation depends on a primary s factor for housekeeping functions, as well as alternative s factors that control regulons in response to environmental stresses. The largest and most diverse subgroup of alternative s factors, the group IV extracytoplasmic function s factors, directs the transcription of genes that regulate a wide variety of responses, including envelope stress and pathogenesis. We determined the 2.3- Angstroms resolution crystal structure of the -35 element recognition domain of a group IV s factor, Escherichia coli s{sup E}4, bound to its consensus -35 element, GGAACTT. Despite similar function and secondary structure, the primary and group IV s factors recognize their -35 elements using distinct mechanisms. Conserved sequence elements of the s{sup E} -35 element induce a DNA geometry characteristic of AA/TT-tract DNA, including a rigid, straight double-helical axis and a narrow minor groove. For this reason, the highly conserved AA in the middle of the GGAACTT motif is essential for -35 element recognition by s{sup E}4, despite the absence of direct protein-DNA interactions with these DNA bases. These principles of s{sup E}4/-35 element recognition can be applied to a wide range of other group IV s factors.
- 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:
- 914279
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-78847-2007-JA; TRN: US200809%%138
- Journal Information:
- PLoS Biol., Vol. 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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