RNA Polymerase-Binding and Transcription Initiation Sites
Upstream of the Methyl Reductase Operon of
Methanococcus vannielii

Abstract

RNA Polymerase, purified from Methanococcus vannielii, was shown by exonuclease III footprinting to bind
to a 49-base-pair (bp) region of DNA in the intergenic region upstream of mcrB. Sl nuclease protection
experiments demonstrated that transcription Initiation in vivo occurs within this region at 32 or 33 bp 5' to the
A T G translation initiation codon of mcrB and 19 or 20 bp 3' to a T A T A box.