A bacterial enhancer functions to tether a transcriptional activator near a promoter

Andrew Wedel, David S. Weiss, David Popham, Peter Dröge, Sydney Kustu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

167 Scopus citations

Abstract

The nitrogen regulatory protein NtrC of enteric bacteria activates transcription of the glnA gene by catalyzing isomerization of closed complexes between RNA polymerase and the glnA promoter to open complexes. NtrC binds to sites upstream of glnA that have properties of eukaryotic transcriptional enhancers. NtrC-binding sites were found to facilitate open complex formation when these sites and the glnA promoter were located on different rings of a singly linked catenane, but not when the two rings were decatenated. The results provide evidence that NtrC contacts RNA polymerase-promoter complexes in a process mediated by formation of a DNA loop. NtrC-binding sites serve to tether NtrC near the glnA promoter, thereby increasing the frequency of collisions between NtrC and polymerase-promoter complexes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)486-490
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume248
Issue number4954
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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