Local unwinding of DNA during RNA synthesis in vitro

A study of unwinding of DNA and shielding of the DNA grooves by RNA polymerase by using methylation with dimethylsulphate

The dimethylsulphate method has been used to study the complexes of RNA polymerase (Escherichia coli) with DNA of T7 phage, poly[d(A--T)] and fragments of calf thymus DNA protected against DNase digestion by RNA polymerase. The binding of RNA polymerase to DNA significantly increases the formation of 1-methyl-adenine produced by methylation of the single-stranded DNA region, diminishes by about 10% the formation of 3-methyl-adenine by methylation within the minor groove and does not affect the formation of 7-methyl-guanine by methylation within the major DNA groove. The presence of nascent RNA decreases the formation of 1-methyl-adenine in DNA of the complex by about 30%. The initiation of RNA synthesis or RNA synthesis itself does not influence the methylation of the major groove but shielding of the minor groove increases by about twice as much. These results suggest that RNA polymerase, upon binding, breaks Watson-Crick base-pairing in a DNA region of about 15-base-pairs long, that nascent RNA forms a duplex with DNA of about 10-base-pairs long; and that the enzyme weakly interacts with DNA along its grooves and preferentially makes contacts with the minor groove.

Studies on the transcription complex of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

To study the chain elongation phase of enzymatic RNA synthesis ternary transcription complexes with T7 DNA or poly[dA) - (dT)] as template were isolated by gel exclusion chromatography. The DNA in these complexes contains single-stranded regions which are recognized by a single-strand-specific nuclease from Neurospora crassa. The non-codogenic DNA strand in the poly[(dA) - (dT)] ternary complex is preferentially hydrolysed by the nuclease. The polymerase protects predominantly the codogenic strand in this complex from digestion by DNAse I. In the T7 DNA ternary complex a DNA fragment with a chain length of approximately 26 nucleotides and an RNA fragment of about 22 nucleotides are protected by polymerase from digestion by DNAse and RNAse.

A model of promoter recognition along the two helical grooves of DNA

A speculative model based on published sequences to explain the specific binding of RNA polymerase of E. coli to promoters is suggested: (see article). A fragment 24 base pairs long to the left of the initiation site must not contain the G's in the positions indicated by the circles and must contain T's (or G's) in the positions marked by the squares. In most known cases mutual disposition of the circle and square patterns is as shown above. In one case (the fd G3 promoter) the pattern of squares is shifted by 4 base pairs to the right relative to the pattern of universal non-G's (circles).

The kinetics of E. coli RNA polymerase

Using an assay specific for chain elongation of E. coli RNA polymerase the kinetics of this propagation reaction have been studied. The kinetic behaviour is consistent woth the mathematical model formulated for this multisubstrate enzyme. The effect of increasing salt concentration on the kinetics of the reaction indicated that DNA unwinding is probably a necessary step in the propagation step, although this may not be the rate limiting step under all conditions.

The study of DNA-RNA-polymerase complexes by kinetic formaldehyde method

A modification of the kinetic formaldehyde method has been proposed providing a possibility for locally denatured regions (defects) formed in DNA preincubated with RNA polymerase (in the absence of nucleoside triphosphates) to be detected. This modification consists in a previous fixation of DNA-enzyme complex with small concentrations of formaldehyde, which do not induce formation of defects in DNA alone. The method has been calibrated under the conditions favourable to RNA synthesis. Studies of the effect of the fixation conditions on the number of defects in DNA interacting with RNA polymerase have shown that the number of defects is constant with formaldehyde fixation concentration between 0.05% and 0.3-0.5% and with fixation time between 2 min and 100 min. The dependence of the number of defects in DNA on RNA polymerase concentration at low ionic strength (0.05 M KCl) is presented by a curve with a plateau. From the initial linear part of the curve it has been found that the enzyme bound to DNA as a monomer. At the excess of the enzyme the mean number of nucleotide pairs between defects is 400-500. Increase of ionic strength results in decrease of the number of defects in DNA. The number of defects depends on temperature of preincubation of the complex. There were no defects in DNA at temperatures below 20 degrees C. At temperatures above 30 degrees C the number of defects reaches saturation. A sharp transition occurs in the range of temperatures between 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Analysis of the experimental and literature data, concerning the interaction of formaldehyde and amino acid methylol derivatives with DNA bases, leads to the conclusion that the mechanism of the formation of defects in helical DNA most likely consists in its unwinding or sharp weakening upon binding of RNA polymerase, prior to addition of formaldehyde.