Control of gene expression is key to development and adaptation. Using purified transcription components from bacteria, we employ structural and functional studies in an integrative manner to elaborate a detailed description of an obligatory step, the accessing of the DNA template, in gene expression. Our work focuses on a specialized molecular machinery that utilizes ATP hydrolysis to initiate DNA opening and permits a description of how the events triggered by ATP hydrolysis within a transcriptional activator can lead to DNA opening and transcription. The bacterial EBPs (enhancer binding proteins) that belong to the AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) protein family remodel the RNAP (RNA polymerase) holoenzyme containing the σ54 factor and convert the initial, transcriptionally silent promoter complex into a transcriptionally proficient open complex using transactions that reflect the use of ATP hydrolysis to establish different functional states of the EBP. A molecular switch within the model EBP we study [called PspF (phage shock protein F)] is evident, and functions to control the exposure of a solvent-accessible flexible loop that engages directly with the initial RNAP promoter complex. The σ54 factor then controls the conformational changes in the RNAP required to form the open promoter complex.
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December 2006
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Conference Article|
October 25 2006
A second paradigm for gene activation in bacteria
M. Buck;
M. Buck
1
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email m.buck@imperial.ac.uk).
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D. Bose;
D. Bose
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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P. Burrows;
P. Burrows
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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W. Cannon;
W. Cannon
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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N. Joly;
N. Joly
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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T. Pape;
T. Pape
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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M. Rappas;
M. Rappas
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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J. Schumacher;
J. Schumacher
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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S. Wigneshweraraj;
S. Wigneshweraraj
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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X. Zhang
X. Zhang
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 22 2006
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2006 The Biochemical Society
2006
Biochem Soc Trans (2006) 34 (6): 1067–1071.
Article history
Received:
June 22 2006
Citation
M. Buck, D. Bose, P. Burrows, W. Cannon, N. Joly, T. Pape, M. Rappas, J. Schumacher, S. Wigneshweraraj, X. Zhang; A second paradigm for gene activation in bacteria. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2006; 34 (6): 1067–1071. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0341067
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