Region 4 of σ as a target for transcription regulation

• Published in: Molecular microbiology Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 863 - 874
• Main Authors: Dove, Simon L., Darst, Seth A., Hochschild, Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-05-2003
• Subjects: Bacteriophage lambda - genetics; Escherichia coli - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Sigma Factor - genetics; Sigma Factor - physiology; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0950-382X; 1365-2958
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2003.03467.x

Summary
Bacterial σ factors play a key role in promoter recognition, making direct contact with conserved promoter elements. Most σ factors belong to the σ70 family, named for the primary σ factor in Escherichia coli. Members of the σ70 family typically share four conserved regions and, here, we focus on region 4, which is directly involved in promoter recognition and serves as a target for a variety of regulators of transcription initiation. We review recent advances in the understanding of the mechanism of action of regulators that target region 4 of σ.