The sigma (sigma) subunit of eubacterial RNA polymerase enables the holoenzyme to recognize and bind to specific sites on DNA known as promoters. Bacteria from several general possess multiple sigma factors that enable RNA polymerase to utilize difference classes of promoters. It is not known how sigma factors work to alter the specificity for promoter binding by RNA polymerase or if the sigma factors play and additional role in the initiation of transcription subsequent to binding of the polymerase to the promoter. These questions will be addresses by examining the effects of mutations in sigE, the structural gene for the sporulation-induced sigma factor, sigmaE, from Bacillus subtilis. These studies are directly relevant to understanding the regulation of differentiation and secondary metabolism in a broad range of bacteria. The understanding of the role and mechanism of sigma factor action may facilitate the production of genetically engineered strains of bacteria that produce useful products. Furthermore, the biochemical principles that govern how a protein subunit directs the bacterial RNA polymerase to specific sites on DNA are probably relevant to RNA polymerases in all organisms.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM039917-02
Application #
3297194
Study Section
Microbial Physiology and Genetics Subcommittee 2 (MBC)
Project Start
1988-04-01
Project End
1993-03-31
Budget Start
1989-04-01
Budget End
1990-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Henriques, A O; Bryan, E M; Beall, B W et al. (1997) cse15, cse60, and csk22 are new members of mother-cell-specific sporulation regulons in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 179:389-98
Bryan, E M; Beall, B W; Moran Jr, C P (1996) A sigma E dependent operon subject to catabolite repression during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 178:4778-86
Seyler Jr, R W; Moran Jr, C P (1996) Potassium permanganate susceptibility of sigma E-RNA polymerase-promoter complexes. Gene 177:129-32
Tatti, K M; Moran Jr, C P (1996) RNA polymerase sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis: purification and characterization. Methods Enzymol 273:149-62
Tatti, K M; Moran Jr, C P (1995) sigma E changed to sigma B specificity by amino acid substitutions in its -10 binding region. J Bacteriol 177:6506-9
Tatti, K M; Shuler, M F; Moran Jr, C P (1995) Sequence-specific interactions between promoter DNA and the RNA polymerase sigma factor E. J Mol Biol 253:8-16
Diederich, B; Tatti, K M; Jones, C H et al. (1992) Genetic suppression analysis of sigma E interaction with three promoters in sporulating Bacillus subtilis. Gene 121:63-9
Jones, C H; Tatti, K M; Moran Jr, C P (1992) Effects of amino acid substitutions in the -10 binding region of sigma E from Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol 174:6815-21
Jones, C H; Moran Jr, C P (1992) Mutant sigma factor blocks transition between promoter binding and initiation of transcription. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 89:1958-62
Moran Jr, C P (1992) Transcriptional regulation of gene expression in Bacillus. Biotechnology 22:39-62

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications