Structural basis of TFIIIC-dependent RNA polymerase III transcription initiation

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Structural organization of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex

We have used systematic fluorescence resonance energy transfer and distance-constrained docking to define the three-dimensional structures of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the bacterial RNA polymerase-promoter open complex in solution. The structures provide a framework for understanding sigma(70)-(RNA polymerase core), sigma(70)-DNA, and sigma(70)-RNA interactions. The positions of sigma(70) regions 1.2, 2, 3, and 4 are similar in holoenzyme and open complex. In contrast, the position of sigma(70) region 1.1 differs dramatically in holoenzyme and open complex. In holoenzyme, region 1.1 is located within the active-center cleft, apparently serving as a "molecular mimic" of DNA, but, in open complex, region 1.1 is located outside the active center cleft. The approach described here should be applicable to the analysis of other nanometer-scale complexes.     

Structural basis for proteolysis-dependent activation of the poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

The active RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of poliovirus, 3Dpol, is generated by cleavage of the 3CDpro precursor protein, a protease that has no polymerase activity despite containing the entire polymerase domain. By intentionally disrupting a known and persistent crystal packing interaction, we have crystallized the poliovirus polymerase in a new space group and solved the complete structure of the protein at 2.0 A resolution. It shows that the N-terminus of fully processed 3Dpol is buried in a surface pocket where it makes hydrogen bonds that act to position Asp238 in the active site. Asp238 is an essential residue that selects for the 2' OH group of substrate rNTPs, as shown by a 2.35 A structure of a 3Dpol-GTP complex. Mutational, biochemical, and structural data further demonstrate that 3Dpol activity is exquisitely sensitive to mutations at the N-terminus. This sensitivity is the result of allosteric effects where the structure around the buried N-terminus directly affects the positioning of Asp238 in the active site.