The σ Subunit-Remodeling Factors: An Emerging Paradigms of Transcription Regulation

Rishi Kishore Vishwakarma, Konstantin Brodolin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transcription initiation is a key checkpoint and highly regulated step of gene expression. The sigma (σ) subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP) controls all transcription initiation steps, from recognition of the −10/−35 promoter elements, upon formation of the closed promoter complex (RPc), to stabilization of the open promoter complex (RPo) and stimulation of the primary steps in RNA synthesis. The canonical mechanism to regulate σ activity upon transcription initiation relies on activators that recognize specific DNA motifs and recruit RNAP to promoters. This mini-review describes an emerging group of transcriptional regulators that form a complex with σ or/and RNAP prior to promoter binding, remodel the σ subunit conformation, and thus modify RNAP activity. Such strategy is widely used by bacteriophages to appropriate the host RNAP. Recent findings on RNAP-binding protein A (RbpA) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Crl from Escherichia coli suggest that activator-driven changes in σ conformation can be a widespread regulatory mechanism in bacteria.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1798
JournalFrontiers in Microbiology
Volume11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 29 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Microbiology
  • Microbiology (medical)

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