Early intermediates in bacterial RNA polymerase promoter melting visualized by time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy.

During formation of the transcription-competent open complex (RPo) by bacterial RNA polymerases (RNAPs), transient intermediates pile up before overcoming a rate-limiting step. Structural descriptions of these interconversions in real time are unavailable. To address this gap, here we use time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to capture four intermediates populated 120 ms or 500 ms after mixing Escherichia coli σ-RNAP and the λP promoter.

Early intermediates in bacterial RNA polymerase promoter melting visualized by time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy.

During formation of the transcription-competent open complex (RPo) by bacterial RNA polymerases (RNAP), transient intermediates pile up before overcoming a rate-limiting step. Structural descriptions of these interconversions in real time are unavailable. To address this gap, time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was used to capture four intermediates populated 120 or 500 milliseconds (ms) after mixing σ-RNAP and the λP promoter.

A general mechanism for transcription bubble nucleation in bacteria.

Bacterial transcription initiation requires σ factors for nucleation of the transcription bubble. The canonical housekeeping σ factor, σ, nucleates DNA melting via recognition of conserved bases of the promoter -10 motif, which are unstacked and captured in pockets of σ. By contrast, the mechanism of transcription bubble nucleation and formation during the unrelated σ-mediated transcription initiation is poorly understood.