Architectural requirements for optimal activation by tandem CRP molecules at a class I CRP-dependent promoter

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters 2002-04, Vol.210 (1), p.55-60
• Main Authors: Tebbutt, John, Rhodius, Virgil A, Webster, Christine L, Busby, Stephen J.W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; cAMP receptor protein; Carrier Proteins; CRP‐dependent promoter; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Cyclic AMP receptor protein; Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein - chemistry; Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein - genetics; Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein - metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA-directed RNA polymerase; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - metabolism; E coli; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Promoters; Protein Subunits; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA polymerase; RNA polymerase α subunit; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; Transcription activation
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11159.x

Abstract The Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) activates transcription at target promoters by interacting with the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase α subunit. We have constructed a set of promoters carrying tandem DNA sites for CRP with one site centred at position −61.5 and the other site located at different upstream positions. Optimal CRP-dependent activation of transcription is observed when the upstream DNA site for CRP is located at position −93.5 or at position −103.5. Evidence is presented to suggest that activation by the upstream-bound CRP molecule is due to interaction with the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase α subunit.