National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS)
R35GM118130
United States
Citation
Journal: Mol Cell / Year: 2026 Title: Structural basis for multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalytic activity. Authors: Andreas U Mueller / Seth A Darst / Abstract: Multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme of transcription, yet its catalytic mechanism remains obscure because high-resolution structures of intermediates with native ...Multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme of transcription, yet its catalytic mechanism remains obscure because high-resolution structures of intermediates with native substrates are not available. We visualized E. coli RNAP on a promoter DNA template with nucleoside triphosphate substrates engaged in active RNA synthesis by cryo-electron microscopy. From this heterogeneous mixture, we determined five high-resolution structures of initial transcribing complexes, including a true Michaelis complex (MC) and a post-catalytic product complex (PC). The MC reveals key conformational transitions during catalysis. Waters in the MC and PC structures show striking overlap with those in corresponding S. cerevisiae RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) structures (see related paper by Li et al.), pointing to functional importance. Together, these results establish that RNAP catalyzes nucleotidyl transfer through a positional (entropic) mechanism, revealing structural determinants of the first step of gene expression.
Entire : Bacterial RNA polymerase open complex on T7A1 promoter with NTP s...
Entire
Name: Bacterial RNA polymerase open complex on T7A1 promoter with NTP substrates
Components
Complex: Bacterial RNA polymerase open complex on T7A1 promoter with NTP substrates
Protein or peptide: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit beta
Protein or peptide: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit beta'
Protein or peptide: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit omega
DNA: T7A1 promoter fragment non-template strand
RNA: Nascent RNA
Protein or peptide: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit alpha
Protein or peptide: RNA polymerase sigma factor RpoD
DNA: T7A1 promoter fragment template strand
Ligand: MAGNESIUM ION
Ligand: ZINC ION
Ligand: CYTIDINE-5'-TRIPHOSPHATE
Ligand: water
+
Supramolecule #1: Bacterial RNA polymerase open complex on T7A1 promoter with NTP s...
Supramolecule
Name: Bacterial RNA polymerase open complex on T7A1 promoter with NTP substrates type: complex / ID: 1 / Parent: 0 / Macromolecule list: #1-#8 Details: Bacterial RNA polymerase open complexes on the T7A1 promoter were prepared in vitro. Addition of ATP, UTP, and CTP started the reaction. Sample was vitrified to halt reaction.
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