Multiple classes and isoforms of the RNA polymerase recycling motor protein HelD

Stalled transcription complexes must be removed to prevent harmful collisions with DNA replication and actively transcribing complexes. This work investigates the phylogeny of recently identified HelD proteins that play an important role in removing stalled complexes. Transcription recycling factor HelD is widely distributed across the eubacteria as is represented by three different classes: Class I in the low G+C Gram-positives; Class II in the high G+C Gram-positives; Class III in the Gram-negative deltaproteobacteria. Many organisms contain multiple expressed isoforms of HelD. AbstractEfficient control of transcription is essential in all organisms. In bacteria, where DNA replication and transcription occur simultaneously, the replication machinery is at risk of colliding with highly abundant transcription complexes. This can be exacerbated by the fact that transcription complexes pause frequently. When pauses are long-lasting, the stalled complexes must be removed to prevent collisions with either another transcription complex or the replication machinery. HelD is a protein that represents a new class of ATP-dependent motor proteins distantly related to helicases. It was first identified in the model Gram-positive bacteriumBacillus subtilis and is involved in removing and recycling stalled transcription complexes. To date, two classes of HelD have been identified: one in the low G+C and the other in the high G+C Gram-positive bacteria. In this work, we have undertaken the...

Source: MicrobiologyOpen - December 9, 2021 Category: Microbiology Authors: Joachim S. Larsen, Michael Miller, Aaron J. Oakley, Nicholas E. Dixon, Peter J. Lewis Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research