Transcriptional analysis and regulation of the sigma-E gene of Streptomyces antibioticus.

We report here the mapping of the transcriptional start point and identification of the promoter for the sigE gene of Streptomyces antibioticus. Sequence analysis revealed a conserved genetic organization of five genes encompassing sigE in S. antibioticus and S. coelicolor. Upstream of sigE a number of direct repeats, while conserved in both species, are arranged differently. Gel shift analysis demonstrated binding of a component of both S. antibioticus and S. coelicolor crude protein extracts to a 30 bp sequence encompassing one repeat, the A-rich box. Deletion analysis in promoter probes showed that maximal activity of the S. antibioticus promoter depends upon the presence of the sequence surrounding the A-rich box, as well as the region further upstream carrying other direct repeats.