Summary information and primary citation

PDB-id
1ku7; SNAP-derived features in text and JSON formats; DNAproDB
Class
transcription-DNA
Method
X-ray (2.4 Å)
Summary
Crystal structure of thermus aquatics RNA polymerase sigmaa subunit region 4 bound to-35 element DNA
Reference
Campbell EA, Muzzin O, Chlenov M, Sun JL, Olson CA, Weinman O, Trester-Zedlitz ML, Darst SA (2002): "Structure of the bacterial RNA polymerase promoter specificity sigma subunit." Mol.Cell, 9, 527-539. doi: 10.1016/S1097-2765(02)00470-7.
Abstract
The sigma subunit is the key regulator of bacterial transcription. Proteolysis of Thermus aquaticus sigma(A), which occurred in situ during crystallization, reveals three domains, sigma(2), sigma(3), and sigma(4), connected by flexible linkers. Crystal structures of each domain were determined, as well as of sigma(4) complexed with -35 element DNA. Exposed surfaces of each domain are important for RNA polymerase binding. Universally conserved residues important for -10 element recognition and melting lie on one face of sigma(2), while residues important for extended -10 recognition lie on sigma(3). Genetic studies correctly predicted that a helix-turn-helix motif in sigma(4) recognizes the -35 element but not the details of the protein-DNA interactions. Positive control mutants in sigma(4) cluster in two regions, positioned to interact with activators bound just upstream or downstream of the -35 element.

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