The bacteriophage T4 AsiA protein contacts the beta-flap domain of RNA polymerase.

ABSTRACT: To initiate transcription from specific promoters, the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) core enzyme must associate with the initiation factor sigma, which contains determinants that allow sequence-specific interactions with promoter DNA. Most bacteria contain several sigma factors, each of which directs recognition of a distinct set of promoters. A large and diverse family of proteins known as "anti-sigma factors" regulates promoter utilization by targeting specific sigma factors. The founding member of this family is the AsiA protein of bacteriophage T4. AsiA specifically targets the primary sigma factor in Escherichia coli, sigma(70), and inhibits transcription from the major class of sigma(70)-dependent promoters. AsiA-dependent transcription inhibition has been attributed to a well-docu

SUBMITTER: Yuan AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2672554 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature