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Abstract
The rpoZ gene encodes the small ω subunit of RNA polymerase. A ΔrpoZ strain of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 grew well in standard conditions (constant illumination at 40 µmol photons m−2 s−1; 32°C; ambient CO2) but was heat sensitive and died at 40°C. In the control strain, 71 genes were at least two-fold up-regulated and 91 genes down-regulated after a 24-h treatment at 40°C, while in ΔrpoZ 394 genes responded to heat. Only 62 of these heat-responsive genes were similarly regulated in both strains, and 80% of heat-responsive genes were unique for ΔrpoZ. The RNA polymerase core and the primary σ factor SigA were down-regulated in the control strain at 40°C but not in ΔrpoZ. In accordance with reduced RNA polymerase content, the total RNA content of mild-heat-stress-treated cells was lower in the control strain than in ΔrpoZ. Light-saturated photosynthetic activity decreased more in ΔrpoZ than in the control strain upon mild heat stress. The amounts of photosystem II and rubisco decreased at 40°C in both strains while PSI and the phycobilisome antenna protein allophycocyanin remained at the same level as in standard conditions. The phycobilisome rod proteins, phycocyanins, diminished during the heat treatment in ΔrpoZ but not in the control strain, and the nblA1 and nblA2 genes (encode NblA proteins required for phycobilisome degradation) were up-regulated only in ΔrpoZ. Our results show that the ω subunit of RNAP is essential in heat stress because it is required for heat acclimation of diverse cellular processes.
Highlights
DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs) catalyze the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA
We have recently shown that in the DrpoZ strain of Synechocystis, recruitment of the primary s factor, SigA, by the RNAP core occurs less frequently than in the control strain, and as a consequence, many highly expressed genes are down-regulated in DrpoZ [10]
In our standard growth conditions, continuous light at the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 40 mmol m22 s21, and 32uC, the DrpoZ strain grows like control strain (CS) [10]
Summary
DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs) catalyze the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA. The core of the multi-subunit RNAP is conserved throughout all cellular life forms [1]. The RNAP core of the majority of eubacteria, contains a catalytic center consisting of b and b9 subunits [2], two identical a subunits that enhance transcription efficiency and participate in promoter recognition [3], and a small v subunit. The RNAP core consists of six subunits because b9 has been split into two parts, an N-terminal c subunit and a C-terminal b9 subunit [4]. For promoter recognition and transcription initiation, the bacterial RNAP core recruits a s factor. Different s factors favor different promoters orchestrating the transcriptional efficiencies of different genes
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