Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Essential Components of Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi In Vitro Transcription Assays
07:15

Essential Components of Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi In Vitro Transcription Assays

Published on: July 22, 2022

Comparative Study of Cyanobacterial and E. coli RNA Polymerases: Misincorporation, Abortive Transcription, and

Masahiko Imashimizu1, Kan Tanaka, Nobuo Shimamoto

  • 1Structural Biology Center, National Institute of Genetics, and Department of Genetics, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.

Genetics Research International
|May 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase resists manganese (Mn2+) toxicity by reducing nucleotide misincorporation, despite a slower elongation rate. This adaptation is crucial for their photosynthetic machinery.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Manganese (Mn2+) toxicity arises from RNA polymerase misincorporating nucleotides.
  • Cyanobacteria require millimolar Mn2+ for photosynthesis, necessitating resistance mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of Mn2+ resistance in cyanobacterial RNA polymerase.
  • To compare cyanobacterial RNA polymerase with E. coli RNA polymerase regarding Mn2+ tolerance.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of RNA polymerase properties.
  • Assays for abortive transcription and nucleotide misincorporation.
  • Measurement of elongation rates, pausing, and transcript cleavage.

Main Results:

  • Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase exhibits lower abortive transcription and misincorporation than E. coli RNA polymerase.
  • Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase has a significantly slower elongation rate and increased pausing.
  • Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase demonstrates faster transcript cleavage in the absence of NTPs.

Conclusions:

  • Cyanobacterial RNA polymerase achieves Mn2+ fidelity by sacrificing elongation speed.
  • This trade-off allows cyanobacteria to maintain transcription despite high intracellular Mn2+ concentrations.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery09:28

In Vitro Transcription Assays and Their Application in Drug Discovery

Published on: September 20, 2016

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli12:48

The Multifaceted Benefits of Protein Co-expression in Escherichia coli

Published on: February 5, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases00:58

Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
Transcription Initiation01:47

Transcription Initiation

Initiation is the first step of transcription in eukaryotes. Prokaryotic RNA Polymerase (RNAP) can bind to the template DNA and start transcribing. On the other hand, transcription in eukaryotes requires additional proteins, called transcription factors, to first bind to the promoter region in the DNA template. This binding helps recruit the specific RNAP that can assemble on the DNA and start transcription.
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...