RNA polymerase

Components of the RNA polymerase

Core subunits

• RpoA: alpha subunit
• RpoB: beta subunit
• RpoC: beta' subunit

• The stoichiometry of the enzyme is RpoA(2)-RpoB-RpoC

Sigma factors

• In addition to the housekeeping sigma factor, SigA, there are several other sigma factors with different promoter recognition specifiity that are active under specific conditions (such as stress or sporulation)

Small accessory subunits

• RpoE: delta subunit
• YloH: omega subunit

Other temporary components

• NusA: essential elongation factor

References

Reviews

P J Lewis, G P Doherty, J Clarke
Transcription factor dynamics.
Microbiology (Reading): 2008, 154(Pt 7);1837-1844
[PubMed:18599813] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Kristina M Herbert, William J Greenleaf, Steven M Block
Single-molecule studies of RNA polymerase: motoring along.
Annu Rev Biochem: 2008, 77;149-76
[PubMed:18410247] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

W G Haldenwang
The sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis.
Microbiol Rev: 1995, 59(1);1-30
[PubMed:7708009] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

The structure of RNA polymerase

Sergei Borukhov, Evgeny Nudler
RNA polymerase holoenzyme: structure, function and biological implications.
Curr Opin Microbiol: 2003, 6(2);93-100
[PubMed:12732296] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Katsuhiko S Murakami, Seth A Darst
Bacterial RNA polymerases: the wholo story.
Curr Opin Struct Biol: 2003, 13(1);31-9
[PubMed:12581657] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

S A Darst
Bacterial RNA polymerase.
Curr Opin Struct Biol: 2001, 11(2);155-62
[PubMed:11297923] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Important original publications

Shu Ishikawa, Taku Oshima, Ken Kurokawa, Yoko Kusuya, Naotake Ogasawara
RNA polymerase trafficking in Bacillus subtilis cells.
J Bacteriol: 2010, 192(21);5778-87
[PubMed:20817769] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Geoff P Doherty, Mark J Fogg, Anthony J Wilkinson, Peter J Lewis
Small subunits of RNA polymerase: localization, levels and implications for core enzyme composition.
Microbiology (Reading): 2010, 156(Pt 12);3532-3543
[PubMed:20724389] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)