DNA sequence requirements for the accurate transcription of a protein-coding plastid gene in a plastid in vitro system from mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

A nuclease-treated plastid extract from mustard (Sinapis alba L.) allows efficient transcription of cloned plastid DNA templates. In this in vitro system, the major runoff transcript of the truncated gene for the 32 000 mol. wt. photosystem II protein was accurately initiated from a site close to or identical with the in vivo start site. By using plasmids with deletions in the 5'-flanking region of this gene as templates, a DNA region required for efficient and selective initiation was detected 28-35 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site. This region contains the sequence element TTGACA, which matches the consensus sequence for prokaryotic ;-35' promoter elements. In the absence of this region, a region 13-27 nucleotides upstream of the start site still enables a basic level of specific transcription. This second region contains the sequence element TATATAA, which matches the consensus sequence for the ;TATA' box of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (or B). The region between the ;TATA'-like element and the transcription start site is not sufficient but may be required for specific transcription of the plastid gene. This latter region contains the sequence element TATACT, which resembles the prokaryotic ;-10' (Pribnow) box. Based on the structural and transcriptional features of the 5' upstream region, a ;promoter switch' mechanism is proposed, which may account for the developmentally regulated expression of this plastid gene.