Activation of transcription initiation by Spx: Formation of transcription complex and identification of a Cis-acting element required for transcriptional activation

Dindo Y. Reyes, Peter Zuber

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    36 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The Spx protein of Bacillus subtilis interacts with RNA polymerase (RNAP) to activate transcription initiation in response to thiol-oxidative stress. Protein-DNA cross-linking analysis of reactions containing RNAP, Spx and trxA (thioredoxin) or trxB (thioredoxin reductase) promoter DNA was undertaken to uncover the organization of the Spx-activated transcription initiation complex. Spx induced contact between the RNAP σA subunit and the -10 promoter sequence of trxA and B, and contact of the ββ′ subunits with core promoter DNA. No Spx-DNA contact was detected. Spx mutants, Spx C10A and SpxG52R., or RNAP α C-terminal domain mutants that impair productive Spx-RNAP interaction did not induce heightened σ and ββ′ contact with the core promoter. Deletion analysis and the activity of hybrid promoter constructs having upstream trxB DNA fused at positions -31, -36 and -41 of the srf (surfactin synthetase) promoter indicated that a cis-acting site between -50 and -36 was required for Spx activity. Mutations at -43 and -44 of trxB abolished Spx-dependent transcription and Spx-induced cross-linking between the σ subunit and the -10 region. These data are consistent with a model that Spx activation requires contact between the Spx/RNAP complex and upstream promoter DNA, which allows Spx-induced engagement of the σ and large subunits with the core promoter.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)765-779
    Number of pages15
    JournalMolecular Microbiology
    Volume69
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Aug 2008

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Microbiology
    • Molecular Biology

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