The effect of DNA-binding proteins on the RNA polymerase reaction

Abstract

DNA-binding proteins, isolated fromBacillus subtilis grown to various stages in the process of sporulation, were incubated with a template for RNA polymerase prior to the addition of purified enzyme. In contrast to the control (no DNA-binding proteins), several of the fractions inhibited RNA polymerase activity and others had no effect; however, increased activity was observed in the presence of DNA-binding proteins from midlog or T0 cells. This stimulation of RNA polymerase activity required that the binding proteins interact with the template, since when the binding proteins and RNA polymerase were simultaneously added to the template, no stimulation of activity was observed. These results suggest that it is worth examining whether some of the DNA-binding proteins identified in this communication can function to direct RNA polymerase to specific sites on the template, and thus regulate transcription.