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. 1994 Oct 3;13(19):4549–4557. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06776.x

The functional subunit of a dimeric transcription activator protein depends on promoter architecture.

Y Zhou 1, P S Pendergrast 1, A Bell 1, R Williams 1, S Busby 1, R H Ebright 1
PMCID: PMC395387  PMID: 7925296

Abstract

In Class I CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP is located upstream of the DNA site for RNA polymerase. In Class II CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP overlaps the DNA site for RNA polymerase, replacing the -35 site. We have used an 'oriented heterodimers' approach to identify the functional subunit of CAP at two Class I promoters having different distances between the DNA sites for CAP and RNA polymerase [CC(-61.5) and CC(-72.5)] and at one Class II promoter [CC(-41.5)]. Our results indicate that transcription activation at Class I promoters, irrespective of the distance between the DNA sites for CAP and RNA polymerase, requires the activating region of the promoter-proximal subunit of CAP. In striking contrast, our results indicate that transcription activation at Class II promoters requires the activating region of the promoter-distal subunit of CAP.

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