Structural coupling between RNA polymerase composition and DNA supercoiling in coordinating transcription: a global role for the omega subunit?

ABSTRACT: In growing bacterial cells, the global reorganization of transcription is associated with alterations of RNA polymerase composition and the superhelical density of the DNA. However, the existence of any regulatory device coordinating these changes remains elusive. Here we show that in an exponentially growing Escherichia coli rpoZ mutant lacking the polymerase ω subunit, the impact of the Eσ(38) holoenzyme on transcription is enhanced in parallel with overall DNA relaxation. Conversely, overproduction of σ(70) in an rpoZ mutant increases both overall DNA supercoiling and the transcription of genes utilizing high negative superhelicity. We further show that transcription driven by the Eσ(38) and Eσ(70) holoenzymes from cognate promoters induces distinct superhelical densities of plasmid DNA

SUBMITTER: Geertz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3147163 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature