Structural Basis of Transcription Initiation: An RNA Polymerase Holoenzyme-DNA Complex
Abstract
The crystal structure of Thermus aquaticus RNA polymerase holoenzyme (α2ββ'ωσA) complexed with a fork-junction promoter DNA fragment has been determined by fitting high-resolution x-ray structures of individual components into a 6.5-angstrom resolution map. The DNA lies across one face of the holoenzyme, completely outside the RNA polymerase active site channel. All sequence-specific contacts with core promoter elements are mediated by the σ subunit. A universally conserved tryptophan is ideally positioned to stack on the exposed face of the base pair at the upstream edge of the transcription bubble. Universally conserved basic residues of the σ subunit provide critical contacts with the DNA phosphate backbone and play a role in directing the melted DNA template strand into the RNA polymerase active site. The structure explains how holoenzyme recognizes promoters containing variably spaced -10 and -35 elements and provides the basis for models of the closed and open promoter complexes.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1069595
- Bibcode:
- 2002Sci...296.1285M
- Keywords:
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- BIOCHEM