Crystal structure of the in vivo-assembled Bacillus subtilis Spx/RNA polymerase alpha subunit C-terminal domain complex

J Struct Biol. 2009 Nov;168(2):352-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jsb.2009.07.001. Epub 2009 Jul 4.

Abstract

The Bacillus subtilis Spx protein is a global transcription factor that interacts with the C-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit (alphaCTD) and regulates transcription of genes involved in thiol-oxidative stress, sporulation, competence, and organosulfur metabolism. Here we determined the X-ray crystal structure of the Spx/alphaCTD complex from an entirely new crystal form than previously reported [Newberry, K.J., Nakano, S., Zuber, P., Brennan, R.G., 2005. Crystal structure of the Bacillus subtilis anti-alpha, global transcriptional regulator, Spx, in complex with the alpha C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 15839-15844]. Comparison of the previously reported sulfate-bound complex and our sulfate-free complex reveals subtle conformational changes that may be important for the role of Spx in regulating organosulfur metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / enzymology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods*
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary

Substances

  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
  • RNA polymerase alpha subunit

Associated data

  • PDB/3GFK