Transcriptional activator C protein-mediated unwinding of DNA as a possible mechanism for mom gene activation

The bacteriophage Mu mom gene encodes the unique DNA-modification function of the phage. Regulation of the mom gene at the transcriptional level is brought about by the transactivator protein C of the phage. The morn promoter is an activator-dependent weak promoter having poor -10 and -35 elements separated by a 19 bp suboptimal spacer region. These features could constrain RNA polymerase occupancy at the promoter. Here, we have probed into the mechanism by which C protein acts as a transcriptional activator at P-mom. In vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting studies demonstrate C protein-mediated asymmetric distortion of its specific site at the mom regulatory region. Using a coupled topoisomerase assay, we demonstrate that C protein induces the unwinding of DNA. This C-mediated unwinding seems to be localised to the 3' flanking region of the C binding site located adjacent to and overlapping the -35 element of P-mom. These results suggest that C protein-mediated torsional changes could be reorienting, the -10 and -35 elements to a favorable conformation for RNA polymerase occupancy at the mom promoter. (C) 1998 Academic Press.