[Point contacts of T7 RNA polymerase in the promotor complex, as determined with phosphate-activated oligonucleotide...

The contacts between phosphate groups of promoter DNA an Lys or His of T7 RNA polmerase (Pol) in the Pol-promoter complex were studied with single- and double- stranded oligonucleotides, which corresponded to the T7 promoter consensus and contained activated phosphate groups at position +1, +2, or -14 relative to the transcription start. To obtain reactive groups, terminal phosphates were modified with N-oxybenzotriazole (HOBT), and internucleotide phosphates were repalced with a trisubstituted pyrophosphate (TSP). The resulting derivatives produced covalent complexes with T7 Pol. Covalent bonding involved His in the case of TSP at position +1 or HOBT at position +1 or -14, and Lys in the case of TSB at position -14.