Contribution

Characterization of part BBa_K842003 (FliA)

σ³² and σ²⁸ are classified as group 3 sigma factors. Sigma factors of this group contain regions 2, 3 and 4 and are very diverse in their structure. σ²⁸ of E. coli is involved in synthesis of flagella (Paget, 2015). The function of this sigma factor is determined significantly by reduced promotor melting capability. It has been demonstrated that strict consensus in the promoter region is very important for σ²⁸: this ensures strict specificity of recognition when transcription is initiated (Koo et al, 2009).

Demonstrated consensus:

(doi:10.1093/nar/gkm456)

It may be attributed to the fact that this type of sigma factors can lack one or more amino acid residues required for the looping out of -11 А when promoter region melting is initiated (Feklístov et al, 2014).

Fig 1. Amino acid sequences of alternative sigmas aligned along the basic one. The red box is region 3.2.
(10.1093/nar/gkt1384)

When performing transcription involving this sigma sub-unit it is necessary to consider the factors that may influence the product output (that is RNA transcript in our case). The main factors influencing the function of the enzyme are salt concentration in the reaction buffer and the temperature of the experiment. Standard conditions for transcription are considered to be 40-50 mM NaCl buffer. However, other salts and concentrations have been tested and it has been discovered that when using KCl instead of NaCl the reaction optimum is not offset and remains at the concentration rate of 40-50 mM. But when using sodium glutamate and sodium acetate instead of sodium chloride the reaction optimum shifts to high concentration regions (300-400 mM). Besides, the influence of temperature on reaction efficiency should be considered. Here it should be noted that the function optimum of RNA polymerase containing an s70 sub-unit is observed at 37°C while for an enzyme containing an s38 sub-unit this value goes down to 30°C (for achieving maximum transcription reaction efficiency). (Promoter Selectivity of Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase sF Holoenzyme Involved in Transcription of Flagellar and Chemotaxis Genes TAPAS KUMAR KUNDU,1 SHUICHI KUSANO,1,2 AND AKIRA ISHIHAMA1 *)