Regulation of promoter activity through electrostatic interactions with RNA-polymerase

Electrostatic profiles for sigma70-specific promoters of T4 bacteriophage and four consensus-like synthetic promoters have been calculated. It was shown that the promoters can be classified according to the presence of some specific electrostatic elements located in the far upstream region of their DNAs. A correlation between the electrostatic elements specific for promoters and their functional behaviour was established. A general scheme of promotor activity regulation through electrostatic interactions between the upstream region of promoter DNA and the RNA-polymerase a-subunit was suggested.