STRUCTURE OF OPEN PROMOTER COMPLEXES WITH ESCHERICHIA-COLI RNA-POLYMERASE AS REVEALED BY THE DNASE-I FOOTPRINTING TECHNIQUE - COMPILATION ANALYSIS

Footprinting data for 33 open promoter complexes with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, as well as 17 ternary complexes with different regula tors, have been compiled using a computer program FUTPR. The typical a nd individual properties of their structural organization are analyzed . Promoters are subgrouped according to the extent of the polymerase c ontact area. A set of alternative sequence elements that could be resp onsible for RNA polymerase attachment in different promoter groups is suggested on the basis of their sequence homology near the hyperreacti ve sites. The model of alternative pathways used for promoter activati on is discussed.