Role of the RNA polymerase sigma subunit in transcription initiation

In bacteria, sigma subunits direct the catalytically competent RNA polymerase core enzyme to promoters. Recent advances in our understanding of bacterial RNA polymerase reveal that (T subunits are intimately involved in all aspects of transcription initiation including promoter location, promoter melting, initiation of RNA synthesis, abortive initiation and promoter escape. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.