COMPUTER-ASSISTED IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF STREPTOMYCETE PROMOTERS

Short sequences that were over represented in a database of Streptomyc es promoter region sequences were identified. These sequences and othe rs that were selected on the basis of the characteristics of known pro moters, were tested to determine if they were found predominantly at p articular distances from the transcription start site. In several case s obvious clusters were recorded. This has allowed the objective ident ification of potential promoter core sequences. In some cases these ma y define novel promoter classes. 150 Streptomyces promoters have been listed and grouped on this basis. A new and extended consensus sequenc e for the Streptomyces E.coli sigma(70)-like promoters was determined. It showed differences from that of E.coli, both in sequence and in th e spacing between the -35 and -10 regions.