Periodicities in the position of E.coli RNA polymerase promoter contacts on
several promoters (lacUV5, T7 A3, tetR, lambda, cin, lambda c17, RNA1, and
trp S.t.) were found by means of Fourier analysis, The comparison of the F
ourier spectrum of core RNA polymerase contacts on the lacUV5 promoter and
that. of holoenzyme revealed a more prominent 7-periodicity in the:Fourier
spectrum of holoenzyme contacts, 6-, 7-, and 8-periodicities were found in
the primary structure of the majority of E.coli promoters, It is shown that
RNA polymerase recognizes specific periodic patterns in the promoter struc
ture.