Structure of the SigF1-dependent pilA1 gene promoter and characterization of the light-activated response in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942
Language English Country Japan Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
- Keywords
- RNA polymerase, SigF1, cyanobacteria, pilA1 promoter, sigma factor, transcription,
- MeSH
- Bacterial Proteins * genetics metabolism MeSH
- Transcription, Genetic MeSH
- Promoter Regions, Genetic * MeSH
- Fimbriae Proteins genetics metabolism MeSH
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial * MeSH
- Sigma Factor * genetics metabolism MeSH
- Light * MeSH
- Synechococcus * genetics metabolism radiation effects MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Bacterial Proteins * MeSH
- Fimbriae Proteins MeSH
- Sigma Factor * MeSH
In cyanobacteria that perform oxygenic photosynthesis, alternative sigma factors can play critical roles in environmental acclimation at the transcriptional initiation step. Here, we found in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 that transcription of the pilA1 gene, encoding the type IV pilin, is dependent on one of the group 3 sigma factors, SigF1. We analyzed the promoter sequence determinants and proposed herein that the -10 and -35 boxes upstream of the transcriptional start site are critical for transcription. Interestingly, while the pilA1 promoter is activated by illumination, RNA polymerase containing SigF1 is already located on the promoter region under dark conditions, prior to illumination. This strongly suggests that promoter activation by light follows the recruitment of RNA polymerase during transcriptional initiation.
Centre Algatech Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
School of Life Science and Technology Tokyo Institute of Technology
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