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C Talkington

Publications and source records attributed to C Talkington.

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Distinctive nucleotide sequences of promoters recognized by RNA polymerase containing a phage-coded "sigma-like" protein.

We report the nucleotide sequences of two promoters for bacteriophage SP01 "middle" genes. These promoters are recognized by a modified form of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase that contains a phage-coded "sigma-like" regulatory protein (gp28) in place of the bacterial sigma factor. Both promoters shared the identical hexanucleotide 5'A-G-G-A-G-A at about 35 base pairs preceding the start point of transcription and the identical heptanucleotide 5'-T-T-T-A-T-T-T (T is the thymine analog 5-hydroxymethyluracil in SP01 DNA) located about 10 base pairs preceding the transcriptional start point. The significance of these sequences in comparison with nucleotide sequences of promoters recognized by sigma-containing RNA polymerases is discussed.

Bacillus subtilis

Restriction cleavage map of SP01 DNA: general location of early, middle, and late genes.

A detailed restriction endonuclease map for the genome of Bacillus subtilis phage SP01 is presented. Sites of cleavage for the restriction enzymes BglII, EcoRI, HaeIII, and SalI were determined. This physical map showed that SP01 DNA was 140 kilobases in length and contained a repeated sequence of 12.4 kilobases at its termini. Combined with previously published information, we were also able to identify the general locations of genes expressed at early, middle, or late times in the phage lytic cycle. In particular, early genes were largely clustered in the terminal repeats, whereas a major cluster of late genes was located in the left-central portion of the genome.

Bacillus subtilis

Promoter recognition by phage SP01-modified RNA polymerase.

A modified form of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase containing a phage SP01-coded regulatory protein (the gene 28 product) selectively transcribes "middle" genes of the phage genome in vitro. In this paper, we identify a subset of restriction endonuclease fragments of SP01 DNA that promote specific transcription by the phage-modified polymerase. In the absence of nucleoside triphosphates, RNA polymerase containing the gene 28 protein selectively binds to these DNA fragments thereby forming stable binary complexes that can be isolated on nitrocellulose filters. In contrast, unmodified RNA polymerase containing sigma factor selectively binds to and transcribes a subset of phage DNA fragments that contain "early" sequences and that are in large part distinct from the fragments recognized by the phage-modified transcriptase. Our results strongly suggest that phage "early" and "middle" genes are transcribed from distinct promoters and that the RNA polymerase containing the gene 28 protein binds to sites that are located at or near promoters for SP01 "middle" genes.

Bacillus subtilis