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Antigenic variability of bacterial RNA polymerases

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Summary

Radioimmunoassay analysis of enteric and some other Gram-negative bacteria has shown that the antigenic structure of the RNA polymerase α subunit is more conserved than that of the β and β' subunits. Since anti-α antibodies do not affect RNA polymerase activity, the constrains which determine the low variability of the antigenic structure of the α subunit are not directly related to its functional role. The antigenic determinants of the α subunit located on the surface of the RNA polymerase molecule are more conserved than those involved in contacts with other subunits; an opposite tendency characterizes the β subunit. The range of variability of the antigenic determinants buried inside the RNA polymerase molecule suggests that the subunits are attached to each other rather loosely. Immunological comparison of RNA polymerases provides a simple method for reconstructing bacterial genealogies. The genealogy of the bacteria examined is essentially in agreement with phylogenetic trees based on 16S and 5S rRNA sequence characterization. This argues against extensive interspecific transfer of genes coding for components of the transcription and translation apparatus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 123182, Moscow, USSR

    V. G. Nikiforov, A. N. Lebedev & E. S. Kalyaeva

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  1. V. G. Nikiforov
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  2. A. N. Lebedev
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  3. E. S. Kalyaeva
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Communicated by D. Goldfarb

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Nikiforov, V.G., Lebedev, A.N. & Kalyaeva, E.S. Antigenic variability of bacterial RNA polymerases. Molec. Gen. Genet. 183, 518–521 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268774

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268774

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