Genome-wide prediction and validation of sigma70 promoters in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1.

Background: In prokaryotes, sigma factors are essential for directing the transcription machinery towards promoters. Various sigma factors have been described that recognize, and bind to specific DNA sequence motifs in promoter sequences. The canonical sigma factor σ(70) is commonly involved in transcription of the cell's housekeeping genes, which is mediated by the conserved σ(70) promoter sequence motifs.