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Structural basis of bacterial transcription activation
Bin Liu1, Chuan Hong2, Rick K Huang2
1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 18, 2017
Summary
Bacterial gene transcription is activated by proteins like cyclic adenosine 3
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bacterial gene transcription often involves a single activator protein.
- The cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate receptor protein (CAP) is a key activator with multiple mechanisms.
- Understanding the class I transcription activation mechanism requires high-resolution structural data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the high-resolution structure of the intact Escherichia coli class I transcription activation complex (TAC).
- To elucidate the structural basis of CAP-mediated recruitment of RNA polymerase (RNAP) in class I transcription.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
- Biochemical reconstitution of the transcription activation complex.
Main Results:
- The cryo-EM structure of the intact class I TAC was determined.
- The structure reveals how CAP binds and wraps promoter DNA.
- Specific interactions mediating RNAP recruitment by CAP were identified.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed structural understanding of the class I transcription activation mechanism.
- This work offers insights into how activators like CAP initiate gene transcription in bacteria.
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