Sigma factors are multi-domain subunits of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) that play critical roles in transcription initiation, including the recognition and opening of promoters as well as the initial steps in RNA synthesis. This review focuses on the structure and function of the major sigma-70 class that includes the housekeeping sigma factor (Group 1) that directs the bulk of transcription...

Liquid-vapor coexistence curves and critical parameters for hard-core 1:1 electrolyte models with diameter ratios lambda = sigma(-)/sigma(+) = 1 to 5.7 have been studied by fine-discretization Monte Carlo methods. Normalizing via the length scale sigma(+/-) = 1 / 2(sigma(+)+sigma(-)), relevant for the low densities in question, both T(*)(c) ( = k(B)T(c)sigma(+/-)/q(2)) and rho(*)(c) ( = rho(c)s...

Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors constitute a diverse family of proteins, within the class of the sigma 70 subunit of RNA polymerase. Most members of the family studied to date are known to regulate gene expression in response to stress conditions. The Bacillus subtilis genome encodes at least 17 distinct sigma factors, seven of which are members of the ECF subfamily. Among these, ...

sigma factors in the sigma(70) family can be classified into the primary and alternative sigma factors according to their physiological functions and amino acid sequence similarities. The primary sigma factors are composed of four conserved regions, with the conserved region 1 being divided into two subregions. Region 1.1, which is absent from the alternative sigma factor, is poor in conservati...

Two genes of the sigB operon, rsbU and rsbV, were deleted in an rsbU(+) strain (FDA486) to evaluate the contribution of these two genes to sigma(B) activity in Staphylococcus aureus. The sigma(B) protein level and the transcription of two sigma(B)-dependent promoters (sigB and sarA P3 transcripts) were analyzed in the constructed mutants. A deletion of the first gene (rsbU) within the sigB oper...

Extracytoplasmic function or ECF sigma factors are the most abundant class of alternative sigma factors in bacteria. Members of the rpoE subclass of ECF sigma factors are implicated in sensing stress in the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria and are required for virulence in many pathogens. The best-studied member of this family is rpoE from Escherichia coli, encoding the sigma(E) protein....