RNA polymerase

Parent categories	3. Information processing 3.2. RNA synthesis and degradation 3.2.1. Transcription
Neighbouring categories	Sigma factors
Related categories	protein-protein interactions
Overview on the categories (Excel file) All genes and their categories (Excel file)

Components of the RNA polymerase

Core subunits

• RpoA: alpha subunit
• RpoB: beta subunit
• RpoC: beta' subunit

• The stoichiometry of the enzyme is RpoA(2)-RpoB-RpoC

Sigma factors

• In addition to the housekeeping sigma factor, SigA, there are several other sigma factors with different promoter recognition specifiity that are active under specific conditions (such as stress or sporulation)

Small accessory subunits

• RpoE: delta subunit
• YloH: omega subunit

Other temporary components

• NusA: essential elongation factor

References

Reviews

Finn Werner, Dina Grohmann
Evolution of multisubunit RNA polymerases in the three domains of life.
Nat Rev Microbiol: 2011, 9(2);85-98
[PubMed:21233849] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Vladimir Svetlov, Evgeny Nudler
Macromolecular micromovements: how RNA polymerase translocates.
Curr Opin Struct Biol: 2009, 19(6);701-7
[PubMed:19889534] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Evgeny Nudler
RNA polymerase active center: the molecular engine of transcription.
Annu Rev Biochem: 2009, 78;335-61
[PubMed:19489723] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

P J Lewis, G P Doherty, J Clarke
Transcription factor dynamics.
Microbiology (Reading): 2008, 154(Pt 7);1837-1844
[PubMed:18599813] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Kristina M Herbert, William J Greenleaf, Steven M Block
Single-molecule studies of RNA polymerase: motoring along.
Annu Rev Biochem: 2008, 77;149-76
[PubMed:18410247] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Sergei Borukhov, Evgeny Nudler
RNA polymerase: the vehicle of transcription.
Trends Microbiol: 2008, 16(3);126-34
[PubMed:18280161] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

W G Haldenwang
The sigma factors of Bacillus subtilis.
Microbiol Rev: 1995, 59(1);1-30
[PubMed:7708009] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Important original publications: PubMed

Houra Merrikh, Cristina Machón, William H Grainger, Alan D Grossman, Panos Soultanas
Co-directional replication-transcription conflicts lead to replication restart.
Nature: 2011, 470(7335);554-7
[PubMed:21350489] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)