biostudies-literatureUnknown11(20)Jagadeesan RBacterial gene networks have operons, each coordinating several genes under a primary promoter. Half of the operons in <i>Escherichia coli</i> have been reported to also contain internal promoters. We studied their role during genome-wide stresses targeting key transcription regulators, RNA polymerase (RNAP) and gyrase. Our results suggest that operons' responses are influenced by stress-related changes in premature elongation terminations and internal promoters' activity. Globally, this causes the responses of genes in the same operon to differ with the distance between them in a wave-like pattern. Meanwhile, premature terminations are affected by positive supercoiling buildup, collisions between elongating and promoter-bound RNAPs, and local regulatory elements. We report similar findingScience advanceseadl3570https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12083536biostudies-literatureDynamics of bacterial operons during genome-wide stresses is influenced by premature terminations and internal promoters.PMC12083536Ribeiro ASMakela JDash SBaptista ISCChauhan VJagadeesan RPalma CSDfalseDynamics of bacterial operons during genome-wide stresses is influenced by premature terminations and internal promoters.Bacterial gene networks have operons, each coordinating several genes under a primary promoter. Half of the operons in <i>Escherichia coli</i> have been reported to also contain internal promoters. We studied their role during genome-wide stresses targeting key transcription regulators, RNA polymerase (RNAP) and gyrase. Our results suggest that operons' responses are influenced by stress-related changes in premature elongation terminations and internal promoters' activity. Globally, this causes the responses of genes in the same operon to differ with the distance between them in a wave-like pattern. Meanwhile, premature terminations are affected by positive supercoiling buildup, collisions between elongating and promoter-bound RNAPs, and local regulatory elements. We report similar finding2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-04-08T19:52:43.931Z2026-04-08T14:31:26.83ZS-EPMC120835364037821610.1126/sciadv.adl3570