Transcription is one of the central points of regulation of cellular functions. Understanding molecular mechanisms of transcription and its regulation remains one of the most important goals in biology. DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAP), the enzymes capable of faithfully copying the information encoded in gene sequence into the mRNA product, are of central importance in the process of transcription. Our research is focused on bacterial and archaeal RNAP's. These enzymes are among the simplest multisubunit polymerases, offering the best chance for obtaining detailed molecular understanding of RNAP activity. Our long term goal is to understand the molecular mechanism by which RNA polymerase initiates transcription. Bacterial RNAP is an attractive target for new antibiotics since it is an essential enzyme. Detailed understanding of RNAP properties unique to the bacterial enzyme will aid the development of new antibiotics targeting RNAP. It is clear now that transcription initiation involves a complex interplay between numerous RNAP-promoter contacts. While we are beginning to understand how RNAP utilizes these contacts in transcription initiation reaction, many gaps in knowledge will need to be filled before a comprehensive understanding of transcription initiation is achieved. In this project we will focus on filling in three of such gaps.
In aim 1 we will determine the role of conserved nontemplate -7 thymine in promoter melting by bacterial RNA polymerase.
In aim 2 we will determine the role of -35 conserved promoter element and the spacer connecting -10 and -35 promoter elements in promoter melting by bacterial RNA polymerase.
In aim 3, we will investigate the interplay between RNAP interactions with the core and secondary promoter elements in promoter escape by bacterial RNA polymerase. Furthermore, we will also begin to investigate the mechanism of transcription initiation by archaeal RNA polymerase (aim 4). Archaeal RNA polymerase exhibits eukaryote-like structure but bacteria-like promoter melting (i.e. no auxiliary ATP-dependent activities are necessary for melting). Thus, the studies with archaeal polymerase will provide insights into the evolution of transcription initiation mechanism and will facilitate understanding of general mechanistic features this process. In our studies we will utilize a combination of fluorescence techniques together with mutagenesis, kinetic, thermodynamic and structural analysis of promoter melting reactions. Upon completion of these studies mechanistic insights to a fundamental biological process will be gained.

Public Health Relevance

This project will provide new insights into the mechanism of transcription initiation by bacterial RNA polymerase. Such information will enable development of new antibiotics targeting bacterial RNA polymerase. Development of new antibiotics targeting new targets is essential to combating emerging antibiotic-resistant strains.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM050514-16
Application #
8061710
Study Section
Macromolecular Structure and Function C Study Section (MSFC)
Program Officer
Tompkins, Laurie
Project Start
1994-08-01
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2011-05-01
Budget End
2012-04-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$307,201
Indirect Cost
Name
Saint Louis University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
050220722
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63103
Heyduk, Ewa; Heyduk, Tomasz (2014) Next generation sequencing-based parallel analysis of melting kinetics of 4096 variants of a bacterial promoter. Biochemistry 53:282-92
Ko, Je; Heyduk, Tomasz (2014) Kinetics of promoter escape by bacterial RNA polymerase: effects of promoter contacts and transcription bubble collapse. Biochem J 463:135-44
Sztiller-Sikorska, Malgorzata; Heyduk, Ewa; Heyduk, Tomasz (2011) Promoter spacer DNA plays an active role in integrating the functional consequences of RNA polymerase contacts with -10 and -35 promoter elements. Biophys Chem 159:73-81
Heyduk, Ewa; Kuznedelov, Konstantin; Severinov, Konstantin et al. (2006) A consensus adenine at position -11 of the nontemplate strand of bacterial promoter is important for nucleation of promoter melting. J Biol Chem 281:12362-9
Semenova, Ekaterina; Minakhin, Leonid; Bogdanova, Ekaterina et al. (2005) Transcription regulation of the EcoRV restriction-modification system. Nucleic Acids Res 33:6942-51
Simeonov, Mario F; Bieber Urbauer, Ramona J; Gilmore, Joshua M et al. (2003) Characterization of the interactions between the bacteriophage T4 AsiA protein and RNA polymerase. Biochemistry 42:7717-26