core-independent promoter-specific interaction of primary sigma factor

• Published in: Nucleic acids research Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 913 - 925
• Main Authors: Yeh, Hsin-Yi, Chen, Tsung-Ching, Liou, Kung-Ming, Hsu, Hsiu-Ting, Chung, Kuei-Min, Hsu, Li-Ling, Chang, Ban-Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.02.2011
• Subjects: Bacillus subtilis; Bacterial Proteins - isolation & purification; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Base Sequence; Binding Sites; DNA; DNA - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - isolation & purification; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; DNA-directed RNA polymerase; Gene Regulation, Chromatin and Epigenetics; Nucleotide sequence; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Promoters; Protein Binding; Sigma factor; Sigma Factor - isolation & purification; Sigma Factor - metabolism; Transcription initiation
• ISSN: 0305-1048; 1362-4962; 1362-4962
• DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq911

Previous studies have led to a model in which the promoter-specific recognition of prokaryotic transcription initiation factor, sigma (σ), is core dependent. Most σ functions were studied on the basis of this tenet. Here, we provide in vitro evidence demonstrating that the intact Bacillus subtilis primary sigma, σA, by itself, is able to interact specifically with promoter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), albeit with low sequence selectivity. The core-independent promoter-specific interaction of the σA is -10 specific. However, the promoter -10 specific interaction is unable to allow the σA to discern the optimal promoter spacing. To fulfill this goal, the σA requires assistance from core RNA polymerase (RNAP). The ability of σ, by itself, to interact specifically with promoter might introduce a critical new dimension of study in prokaryotic σ function.