Sigma factor is not released during transcription in Bacillus subtilis

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Abstract
The relationship between sigma (σ) and delta (δ) factors of Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase has been analyzed during initiation of RNA synthesis. When core enzyme (E) containing delta factor (Eδ) binds to DNA, the delta factor is released with the formation of an E-DNA complex. The addition of sigma to the E-DNA complex results in the formation of a stable Eσ-DNA complex which can synthesize RNA upon addition of nucleoside triphosphates. Sigma factor, significantly, is not released from the core during RNA synthesis. These results suggest that delta and sigma factors can act sequentially during initiation of RNA synthesis with delta acting as a DNA recognition factor and sigma acting as an initiation factor. The results do not preclude the possibility that Eσ can initiate RNA synthesis correctly since Eσ alone can bind to DNA and initiate RNA synthesis.