Abortive initiation and productive initiation by RNA polymerase involve DNA scrunching

Using single-molecule DNA nanomanipulation, we show that abortive initiation involves DNA "scrunching"--in which RNA polymerase (RNAP) remains stationary and unwinds and pulls downstream DNA into itself--and that scrunching requires RNA synthesis and depends on RNA length. We show further that promoter escape involves scrunching, and that scrunching occurs in most or all instances of promoter escape. Our results support the existence of an obligatory stressed intermediate, with approximately one turn of additional DNA unwinding, in escape and are consistent with the proposal that stress in this intermediate provides the driving force to break RNAP-promoter and RNAP-initiation-factor interactions in escape.     

Structure of a transcribing T7 RNA polymerase initiation complex

The structure of a T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) initiation complex captured transcribing a trinucleotide of RNA from a 17-base pair promoter DNA containing a 5-nucleotide single-strand template extension was determined at a resolution of 2.4 angstroms. Binding of the upstream duplex portion of the promoter occurs in the same manner as that in the open promoter complex, but the single-stranded template is repositioned to place the +4 base at the catalytic active site. Thus, synthesis of RNA in the initiation phase leads to accumulation or "scrunching" of the template in the enclosed active site pocket of T7 RNAP. Only three base pairs of heteroduplex are formed before the RNA peels off the template.     

木薯MeMYB63 基因特性及启动子活性初步分析

为了解木薯干旱相关的MeMYB63基因的基本特性,从木薯中克隆了干旱诱导的调控基因MeMYB63的全长cDNA及起始密码子上游1 500 bp的DNA片段,在转基因拟南芥中对该基因的启动子活性进行了初步分析.利用绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)对MeMYB63蛋白进行标记,通过烟草瞬时转化系统观察融合蛋白的亚细胞定位.利用酵母转化试验确认MeMYB63是否具有转录激活功能.结果表明,MeMYB63基因5'上游1543 bp的片段具有明显启动子特征.MeMYB63蛋白的亚细胞定位试验发现MeMYB63与GFP融合的蛋白产物仅在细胞核出现,酵母转录激活试验表明,MeMYB63具有明显的转录激活功能,说明该基因具有转录激活结构域.亚细胞定位及转录激活试验结果表明,MeMYB63可能是一个转录因子,为今后进行该基因功能的研究提供了重要依据.     

木薯MeMYB63 基因特性及启动子活性初步分析

为了解木薯干旱相关的MeMYB63 基因的基本特性,从木薯中克隆了干旱诱导的调控基因MeMYB63的全长cDNA 及起始密码子上游1 500 bp 的DNA 片段,在转基因拟南芥中对该基因的启动子活性进行了初步分析。利用绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)对MeMYB63 蛋白进行标记,通过烟草瞬时转化系统观察融合蛋白的亚细胞定位。利用酵母转化试验确认MeMYB63 是否具有转录激活功能。结果表明,MeMYB63 基因5'' 上游1543 bp 的片段具有明显启动子特征。MeMYB63 蛋白的亚细胞定位试验发现MeMYB63 与GFP 融合的蛋白产物仅在细胞核出现,酵母转录激活试验表明,MeMYB63 具有明显的转录激活功能,说明该基因具有转录激活结构域。亚细胞定位及转录激活试验结果表明,MeMYB63 可能是一个转录因子,为今后进行该基因功能的研究提供了重要依据。