Structural highlights
Function
[RPOZ_THEAQ] Promotes RNA polymerase assembly. Latches the N- and C-terminal regions of the beta' subunit thereby facilitating its interaction with the beta and alpha subunits.[1] [Q9EZJ8_THEAQ] Sigma factors are initiation factors that promote the attachment of RNA polymerase to specific initiation sites and are then released (By similarity).[RuleBase:RU000715]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The crystal structure of the initiating form of Thermus aquaticus RNA polymerase, containing core RNA polymerase (alpha2betabeta'omega) and the promoter specificity sigma subunit, has been determined at 4 angstrom resolution. Important structural features of the RNA polymerase and their roles in positioning sigma within the initiation complex are delineated, as well as the role played by sigma in modulating the opening of the RNA polymerase active-site channel. The two carboxyl-terminal domains of sigma are separated by 45 angstroms on the surface of the RNA polymerase, but are linked by an extended loop. The loop winds near the RNA polymerase active site, where it may play a role in initiating nucleotide substrate binding, and out through the RNA exit channel. The advancing RNA transcript must displace the loop, leading to abortive initiation and ultimately to sigma release.
Structural basis of transcription initiation: RNA polymerase holoenzyme at 4 A resolution.,Murakami KS, Masuda S, Darst SA Science. 2002 May 17;296(5571):1280-4. PMID:12016306[2]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Minakhin L, Bhagat S, Brunning A, Campbell EA, Darst SA, Ebright RH, Severinov K. Bacterial RNA polymerase subunit omega and eukaryotic RNA polymerase subunit RPB6 are sequence, structural, and functional homologs and promote RNA polymerase assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Jan 30;98(3):892-7. PMID:11158566 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.98.3.892
- ↑ Murakami KS, Masuda S, Darst SA. Structural basis of transcription initiation: RNA polymerase holoenzyme at 4 A resolution. Science. 2002 May 17;296(5571):1280-4. PMID:12016306 doi:10.1126/science.1069594