Quantifying the regulatory role of individual transcription factors in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Gene regulation often results from the action of multiple transcription factors (TFs) acting at a promoter, obscuring the individual regulatory effect of each TF on RNA polymerase (RNAP). Here we measure the fundamental regulatory interactions of TFs in E. coli by designing synthetic target genes that isolate individual TFs' regulatory effects. Using a thermodynamic model, each TF's regulatory interactions are decoupled from TF occupancy and interpreted as acting through (de)stabilization of RNAP and (de)acceleration of transcription initiation. We find that the contribution of each mechanism depends on TF identity and binding location; regulation immediately downstream of the promoter is insensitive to TF identity, but the same TFs regulate by distinct mechanisms upstream of the promoter.

SUBMITTER: Guharajan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8667592 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature