TRAP, THE TRP RNA-BINDING ATTENUATION PROTEIN OF BACILLUS-SUBTILIS, IS A TOROID-SHAPED MOLECULE THAT BINDS TRANSCRIPTS CONTAINING GAG OR UAG REPEATS SEPARATED BY 2 NUCLEOTIDES

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein of Bacillus subtilis, TRAP, regulates both transcription and translation by binding to specific transcript sequences. The optimal transcript sequences required for TRAP binding were determined by measuring complex formation between purified TRAP protein and synthetic RNAs, RNAs were tested that contained repeats of different trinucleotide sequences, with differing spacing between the repeats. A transcript containing GAG repeats separated by two-nucleotide spacers was bound most tightly. in addition, transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the structure of TRAP and the TRAP-transcript complex TRAP was observed to be a toroid-shaped oligomer when free or when bound to either a natural or a synthetic RNA.