A sigma factor (σ factor) is a prokaryotic transcription
initiation factorthat enables specific binding of RNA polymeraseto gene promoters. Different sigma factors are activated in response to different environmental conditions. Every molecule of RNA polymerasecontains exactly one sigma factor subunit, which in the model bacterium " Escherichia coli" is one of those listed below. "E.coli" has at least eight sigma factors; the number of sigma factors varies between bacterial species. Sigma factors are distinguished by their characteristic molecular weights. For example, σ70 refers to the sigma factor with a molecular weight of 70 kDa.
Sigma factors have four main regions that are generally conserved:
N-terminus --------------------- C-terminus 1 2 3 4
The regions are further subdivided (e.g. 2 includes 2.1, 2.2, etc.)
*Region 1 is found only in "primary sigma factors" (RpoD, RpoS in "E.coli"). It is involved in ensuring the sigma factor will only bind the promoter when it is complexed with the RNA polymerase.
*Region 2.4 recognizes and binds to the -10
*Region 4.2 recognizes and binds to the -35 promoter site.
The exception to this organization is in σ54-type sigma factors. Proteins homologous to σ54/RpoN are functional sigma factors, but they have significantly different primary amino acid sequences.
Specialized sigma factors
Different sigma factors are activated under different environmental conditions. These specialized sigma factors bind the promoters of genes appropriate to the environmental conditions, increasing the transcription of those genes.
Sigma factors in "
*σ70 (RpoD) - the "housekeeping" sigma factor, transcribes most genes in growing cells. Makes the proteins necessary to keep the cell alive.
*σ54 (RpoN) - the nitrogen-limitation sigma factor
*σ38 (RpoS) - the starvation/stationary phase sigma factor
*σ32 (RpoH) - the heat shock sigma factor, it is turned on when exposed to heat
*σ28 (RpoF) - the flagellar sigma factor
*σ24 (RpoE) - the extracytoplasmic/extreme heat stress sigma factor
*σ19 (FecI) - the ferric citrate sigma factor, regulates the fec gene for iron transport
There are also
anti-sigma factorsthat inhibit the function of sigma factors.
Retention during transcription elongation
The core RNA polymerase (consisting of 2 alpha (α), 1 beta (β), 1 beta-prime (β'), and 1 omega (ω) subunits) binds a sigma factor to form a complex called the
RNA polymerase holoenzyme. It was previously believed that the RNA polymerase holoenzyme initiates transcription, while the core RNA polymerase alone synthesizes RNA. Thus, the accepted view was that sigma factor must dissociate upon transition from transcription initiation to transcription elongation (this transition is called "promoter escape"). This view was based on analysis of purified complexes of RNA polymerase stalled at initiation and at elongation. Finally, structural models of RNA polymerase complexes predict that as the growing RNA product becomes longer than ~10 nucleotides sigma must be "pushed out" of the holoenzyme, since there is a steric clash between RNA and a sigma domain. However, a recent study (reference *2) has shown that σ70 remains attached in complex with the core RNA polymerase, at least during early elongation. Indeed, the phenomenon of promoter-proximal stalling suggests that sigma may play a role during early elongation. All studies are consistent with the assumption that promoter escape reduces the lifetime of the sigma-core interaction from very long at initiation (too long to be measured in a typical biochemical experiment) to a shorter, measurable lifetime upon transition to elongation.
sigma factor — sig·ma factor sig mə n a detachable polypeptide subunit of RNA polymerase that facilitates the initiation of transcription by recognizing specific DNA promoter sites … Medical dictionary
sigma factor — The sub unit of prokaryotic RNA polymerases responsible for the initiation of transcription at specific initiation sequences … Glossary of Biotechnology
Sigma 38 — Sigma factors are bacterial proteins that help control how genes are used (expressed). In particular, sigma factors are used when genes are turned on , eg if a bacterium is growing in a liquid (growth medium) that is poor in food, and a rich food … Wikipedia