Abstract
Repression of transcription of the abrB gene is essential to expression of many of the postexponential genes in Bacillus. The repression is due to the activity of the response regulator protein Spo0A. We have used in vitro transcription and DNase I and hydroxyl radical footprinting to explore the mechanism of transcription inhibition. Spo0A binds to specific DNA sequences (0A boxes), and two such boxes are found downstream of the tandem promoters for the abrB gene. The data indicate that both RNA polymerase and Spo0A bind simultaneously to a DNA fragment containing the promoters and the 0A boxes. The Spo0A prevents the polymerase from inducing DNA strand denaturation at the promoter for the abrB gene.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Bacillus subtilis / metabolism*
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Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Base Sequence
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Binding Sites
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DNA Footprinting
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DNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism*
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Deoxyribonuclease I
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Escherichia coli / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
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Genes, Bacterial*
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Hydroxyl Radical
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Kinetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Promoter Regions, Genetic*
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Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcription, Genetic*
Substances
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AbrB protein, Bacillus subtilis
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Bacterial Proteins
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DNA, Bacterial
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Spo0A protein, Bacillus subtilis
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Transcription Factors
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Hydroxyl Radical
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DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
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Deoxyribonuclease I