Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ruff EF
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4496709 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ruff Emily F EF Record M Thomas MT Artsimovitch Irina I
Biomolecules 20150527 2
Transcription initiation is a highly regulated step of gene expression. Here, we discuss the series of large conformational changes set in motion by initial specific binding of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) to promoter DNA and their relevance for regulation. Bending and wrapping of the upstream duplex facilitates bending of the downstream duplex into the active site cleft, nucleating opening of 13 bp in the cleft. The rate-determining opening step, driven by binding free energy, forms an unsta ...[more]