A general mechanism for transcription bubble nucleation in bacteria

Bacterial transcription initiation requires σ factors for nucleation of the transcription bubble. The canonical housekeeping σ factor, σ⁷⁰, nucleates DNA melting via recognition of conserved bases of the promoter -10 motif, which are unstacked and captured in pockets of σ⁷⁰. By contrast, the mechanism of transcription bubble nucleation and formation during the unrelated σ^N-mediated transcription initiation is poorly understood. Herein, we combine structural and biochemical approaches to establish that σ^N, like σ⁷⁰, captures a flipped, unstacked base in a pocket formed between its N-terminal region I (RI) and extra-long helix features. Strikingly, RI inserts into the nascent bubble to stabilize the nucleated bubble prior to engagement of the obligate ATPase activator. Our data suggest a general paradigm of transcription initiation that requires σ factors to nucleate an early melted intermediate prior to productive RNA synthesis.