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Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

Transcriptional attenuation occurs when RNA transcription is prematurely terminated due to the formation of a terminator mRNA hairpin structure. Bacteria use these hairpins to regulate the transcription process and control the synthesis of several amino acids including histidine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine. Transcription attenuation takes place in the non-coding regions of mRNA.
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...

Repressible Operon: trp Operon

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The trp operon in Escherichia coli exemplifies a repressible operon. It regulates the synthesis of tryptophan through repressor-mediated transcriptional control and attenuation. This dual regulatory mechanism ensures tryptophan biosynthesis occurs only when needed, conserving cellular resources.Structure of the trp OperonThe trp operon consists of five structural genes (trpE, trpD, trpC, trpB, and trpA) that encode enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis. These genes are transcribed as a single...

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...

Operons

Operons

Prokaryotes can control gene expression through operons—DNA sequences consisting of regulatory elements and clustered, functionally related protein-coding genes. Operons use a single promoter sequence to initiate transcription of a gene cluster (i.e., a group of structural genes) into a single mRNA molecule. The terminator sequence ends transcription. An operator sequence, located between the promoter and structural genes, prohibits the operon’s transcriptional activity if bound by a repressor...

Operons

Operons

Prokaryotes can control gene expression through operons—DNA sequences consisting of regulatory elements and clustered, functionally related protein-coding genes. Operons use a single promoter sequence to initiate transcription of a gene cluster (i.e., a group of structural genes) into a single mRNA molecule. The terminator sequence ends transcription. An operator sequence, located between the promoter and structural genes, prohibits the operon’s transcriptional activity if bound by a repressor...

Riboswitches

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...

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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

Evolutionary comparison of ribosomal operon antitermination function.

Kristine B Arnvig¹, Shirley Zeng, Selwyn Quan

¹Division of Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.

Journal of Bacteriology

|September 2, 2008

Summary

Bacterial transcription antitermination sequences were tested in Escherichia coli. Sequence similarity to E. coli correlated with function, with some bacterial sequences conferring significant antitermination properties.

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Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on (TRO) Approach

Published on: March 12, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Genetics

Background:

Transcription antitermination in Escherichia coli ribosomal operons involves RNA polymerase modification by specific proteins.
This process requires both signal sequences within rrn operons and interacting proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the functionality of putative rrn transcription antitermination-inducing sequences from five different bacteria in E. coli.
To investigate the role of the E. coli NusB protein in these heterologous antitermination systems.

Main Methods:

Assessed antitermination activity by measuring RNA polymerase readthrough of a factor-dependent terminator.
Tested bacterial rrn leader sequences for their ability to confer antitermination in E. coli, both in the presence and absence of NusB.

Main Results:

Sequences more similar to E. coli's rrn sequences generally exhibited better antitermination function.
rrn leader sequences from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Caulobacter crescentus showed significant antitermination activity.
An unexpected finding was the reduced dependence on NusB for antitermination when using the Caulobacter crescentus rrn leader sequence.

Conclusions:

Bacterial rrn leader sequences can confer functional antitermination properties in E. coli, with efficacy often related to sequence homology.
The study highlights the conserved nature of transcription antitermination mechanisms and identifies specific sequences with potential for manipulation.
The unique NusB-independent activity observed with the Caulobacter crescentus sequence warrants further investigation into its regulatory mechanisms.