10MJ

Open Mtb-EC: Cryo-EM structure of Mtb RNAP elongation complex (substrate loading mimic) with an open active site (open TL and RH-FL)

Summary for 10MJ

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb10mj/pdb
• EMDB information: 75287
• Descriptor: DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit alpha, DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit omega, Non-template DNA, ... (10 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: transcription, rna polymerase, dna/rna, nucleotide addition cycle
• Biological source: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; More
• Total number of polymer chains: 8
• Total formula weight: 404234.93

Authors

Dhingra, Y.,Darst, S.A. (deposition date: 2026-01-27, release date: 2026-06-24)

Primary citation

Dhingra, Y.,Landick, R.,Campbell, E.A.,Darst, S.A.
RNA polymerase inhibitors reveal active-site motions essential for the nucleotide-addition cycle.
Biorxiv, 2026

PubMed Abstract: The nucleotide-addition cycle (NAC) of multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs) involves coordinated conformational changes in conserved active-site structural elements, including the trigger loop (TL). The TL is open (unfolded) in most RNAP structures but can close (fold) in substrate-bound (post- or pre-translocated) states of the RNAP, promoting catalysis. TL closure has been associated with closure of another conserved structural element, the Rim-Helices/F-loop (RH-FL), but the role of the RH-FL in the NAC is unclear. Antibiotic leads CBR9379 and AAP-SO inhibit the and RNAPs, respectively, by binding in a pocket formed by the bridge helix and RH-FL. The precise mechanism of action for these inhibitors is yet to be defined. We present cryo-electron microscopy structures showing that both compounds inhibit the RNAP NAC by preventing RH-FL closure, thereby allosterically destabilizing the closed TL. This work reveals a conserved mechanistic principle of RNAP catalysis across all domains of life and provides new insight for antibiotic design.

PubMed: 41993335
DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.06.716786

Experimental method

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (3.3 Å)