Saturation mutagenesis of the haloarchaeal bop gene promoter: identification of DNA supercoiling sensitivity sites and absence of TFB recognition element and UAS enhancer activity

Transcription from the bop promoter in the haloarchaeon Halobacterium NRC‐1, is highly induced under oxygen‐limiting conditions. A DNA gyrase inhibitor, novobiocin, was previously shown to block bop gene induction and suggested that DNA supercoiling mediates transcriptional induction. A region of non‐B structure was found 3′ to the TATA box within an 11 bp alternating purine–pyrimidine sequence (RY box), which correlated to both increased DNA supercoiling and transcriptional induction. Here, saturation mutagenesis of the RY box region has been used to show that single‐base substitutions of A(r)G either 23 or 19 bp 5′ to the transcription start site temper the effect of DNA supercoiling based on novobiocin insensitivity of transcription. Mutagenesis of the region 5′ to the TATA box showed its involvement in DNA supercoiling modulation of transcription, defined the 3′ end of the upstream activator sequence (UAS) regulatory element, and ruled out the requirement for a TFB (TFIIB) Recognition Element. Spacing between the TATA box and UAS was found to be critical for promoter activity because insertion of partial or whole helical turns between the two elements completely inhibited transcription indicating that the UAS element does not function as a transcriptional enhancer. The results are discussed in the context of DNA melting and flexibility around the TATA box region and the involvement of multiple regulatory and transcription factors in bop promoter activity.