Structural Basis for Transcript Elongation Control by NusG Family Universal Regulators

Cell. 2018 Jun 14;173(7):1650-1662.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.017. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Abstract

NusG/RfaH/Spt5 transcription elongation factors are the only transcription regulators conserved across all life. Bacterial NusG regulates RNA polymerase (RNAP) elongation complexes (ECs) across most genes, enhancing elongation by suppressing RNAP backtracking and coordinating ρ-dependent termination and translation. The NusG paralog RfaH engages the EC only at operon polarity suppressor (ops) sites and suppresses both backtrack and hairpin-stabilized pausing. We used single-particle cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine structures of ECs at ops with NusG or RfaH. Both factors chaperone base-pairing of the upstream duplex DNA to suppress backtracking, explaining stimulation of elongation genome-wide. The RfaH-opsEC structure reveals how RfaH confers operon specificity through specific recognition of an ops hairpin in the single-stranded nontemplate DNA and tighter binding to the EC to exclude NusG. Tight EC binding by RfaH sterically blocks the swiveled RNAP conformation necessary for hairpin-stabilized pausing. The universal conservation of NusG/RfaH/Spt5 suggests that the molecular mechanisms uncovered here are widespread.

Keywords: Spt5; nontemplate DNA; transcription elongation; transcription pausing.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / chemistry
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / genetics
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Peptide Elongation Factors / chemistry
  • Peptide Elongation Factors / genetics
  • Peptide Elongation Factors / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Trans-Activators / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • rRNA Operon / genetics

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • NusG protein, E coli
  • Peptide Elongation Factors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • RfaH protein, E coli
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases