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Related Concept Videos

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes02:42

Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes

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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...
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Bacterial Transcription01:53

Bacterial Transcription

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RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
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Transcription in Prokaryotes01:28

Transcription in Prokaryotes

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Transcription is a highly regulated process that converts genetic information into RNA molecules. The transcription cycle is divided into three key stages: initiation, elongation, and termination, each driven by specific molecular mechanisms.Initiation of TranscriptionIn bacteria, transcription begins when the RNA polymerase core enzyme associates with a sigma factor to form a holoenzyme. For example, the E. coli sigma factor called σ70 forms a holoenzyme, which recognizes the -10 (Pribnow...
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Transcription Initiation01:47

Transcription Initiation

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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...
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Transcription01:10

Transcription

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Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
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Transcription01:17

Transcription

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Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in correctly synthesizing messenger RNA (mRNA). Transcriptional regulation is responsible for the differentiation of different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds of RNA Molecules
In eukaryotes,...
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Related Experiment Video

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Analysis of Termination of Transcription Using BrUTP-strand-specific Transcription Run-on TRO Approach
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Structural basis for λN-dependent processive transcription antitermination.

Nelly Said1, Ferdinand Krupp2, Ekaterina Anedchenko1

  • 1Laboratory of Structural Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraβe 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.

Nature Microbiology
|April 29, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophage lambda N protein and host factors form a complex that prevents transcription termination. Structural studies reveal how this complex interacts with RNA polymerase to ensure gene expression.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Processive antitermination is a crucial regulatory mechanism in bacteriophage lambda gene expression.
  • This process involves the phage protein lambda N (λN) and host factors (NusA, NusB, NusE, NusG) interacting with an RNA nut site.
  • The structural basis for how these components prevent transcription termination by RNA polymerase has been unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms underlying λN-mediated transcription antitermination.
  • To visualize the complete antitermination complex interacting with RNA polymerase.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of a λN-NusA-NusB-NusE-nut site complex.
  • Electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to visualize the complete antitermination complex.
  • Crosslinking/mass spectrometry and structure-guided mutagenesis for validation and functional insights.

Main Results:

  • Crystal structure of a key regulatory complex and cryo-EM structure of the complete antitermination complex were obtained.
  • Intrinsically disordered λN acts as a hub, organizing NusA, NusB, and NusE into a triangular complex via the nut site RNA.
  • This complex docks onto RNA polymerase, with λN's C-terminus potentially clamping the RNA exit channel and repositioning NusA.

Conclusions:

  • λN employs a multi-pronged strategy to reprogram the transcriptional machinery for antitermination.
  • Mechanisms include stabilizing the DNA:RNA hybrid, sequestering terminator hairpin elements, and interfering with termination factor Rho.
  • These findings provide a structural basis for understanding this fundamental transcription regulatory event.