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Structural basis for intrinsic transcription termination

Author

Listed:
  • Linlin You

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Expery O. Omollo

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Chengzhi Yu

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Rachel A. Mooney

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Jing Shi

    (Zhejiang University School of Medicine
    Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine)

  • Liqiang Shen

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoxian Wu

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Aijia Wen

    (Zhejiang University School of Medicine)

  • Dingwei He

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuan Zeng

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yu Feng

    (Zhejiang University School of Medicine)

  • Robert Landick

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Yu Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Efficient and accurate termination is required for gene transcription in all living organisms1,2. Cellular RNA polymerases in both bacteria and eukaryotes can terminate their transcription through a factor-independent termination pathway3,4—called intrinsic termination transcription in bacteria—in which RNA polymerase recognizes terminator sequences, stops nucleotide addition and releases nascent RNA spontaneously. Here we report a set of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of Escherichia coli transcription intrinsic termination complexes representing key intermediate states of the event. The structures show how RNA polymerase pauses at terminator sequences, how the terminator RNA hairpin folds inside RNA polymerase, and how RNA polymerase rewinds the transcription bubble to release RNA and then DNA. These macromolecular snapshots define a structural mechanism for bacterial intrinsic termination and a pathway for RNA release and DNA collapse that is relevant for factor-independent termination by all RNA polymerases.

Suggested Citation

  • Linlin You & Expery O. Omollo & Chengzhi Yu & Rachel A. Mooney & Jing Shi & Liqiang Shen & Xiaoxian Wu & Aijia Wen & Dingwei He & Yuan Zeng & Yu Feng & Robert Landick & Yu Zhang, 2023. "Structural basis for intrinsic transcription termination," Nature, Nature, vol. 613(7945), pages 783-789, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:613:y:2023:i:7945:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05604-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05604-1
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