Regulation of promoter activity through electrostatic interactions with RNA polymerase

Electrostatic potential profiles were calculated for σ⁷⁰-specific phage T4 promoters and four consensus-like synthetic promoters. Promoters could be classified according to the presence of specific elements of the electrostatic profile in the farther upstream region (?60 to ?100). A correlation was found between the kind of such specific element and the functional behavior of the promoter. A general scheme is proposed whereby the promoter activity is regulated through electrostatic interactions between the upstream region of promoter DNA and the RNA polymerase α-subunit.