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rpoA RNA polymerase subunit alpha [ Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655 ]

Gene ID: 947794, updated on 6-Jul-2026
Official Symbol
rpoA
Official Full Name
RNA polymerase subunit alpha
Primary source
ECOCYC:EG10893
Locus tag
b3295
See related
ASAP:ABE-0010802
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
REVIEWED
Organism
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655 (strain: K-12, substrain: MG1655)
Lineage
Bacteria; Pseudomonadati; Pseudomonadota; Gammaproteobacteria; Enterobacterales; Enterobacteriaceae; Escherichia
Also known as
ECK3282; pez; phs; sez
Summary
HT_Cmplx11_Mem: [More information is available at EcoGene: EG10893]. RpoA is the subunit of the RNA polymerase core enzyme. [More information is available at EcoCyc: EG10893].
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Sequence:
NC_000913.3 (3440040..3441029, complement)

NC_000913.3Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene DUF1992 domain-containing protein YhdN Neighboring gene 50S ribosomal subunit protein L17 Neighboring gene 30S ribosomal subunit protein S4 Neighboring gene 30S ribosomal subunit protein S11

Genomic Sequence:
NC_000913.3

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

Related articles in PubMed

  1. Structure of open promoter complexes with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase as revealed by the DNase I footprinting technique: compilation analysis. Ozoline ON, et al. Nucleic Acids Res, 1995 Nov 25. PMID 8524639, Free PMC Article
  2. The C-terminal domain of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase alpha subunit plays a role in the CI-dependent activation of the bacteriophage lambda pM promoter. Kedzierska B, et al. Nucleic Acids Res, 2007. PMID 17389649, Free PMC Article
  3. Upstream promoter sequences and alphaCTD mediate stable DNA wrapping within the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex. Cellai S, et al. EMBO Rep, 2007 Mar. PMID 17290289, Free PMC Article
  4. Similarity and divergence between the RNA polymerase alpha subunits from hyperthermophilic Thermotoga maritima and mesophilic Escherichia coli bacteria. Braun F, et al. Gene, 2006 Oct 1. PMID 16859838
  5. Sequence-independent upstream DNA-alphaCTD interactions strongly stimulate Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-lacUV5 promoter association. Ross W, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2005 Jan 11. PMID 15626760, Free PMC Article

See all (270) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. Mutations in AcrR and RNA Polymerase Confer High-Level Resistance to Psoralen-UVA Irradiation.
    Title: Mutations in AcrR and RNA Polymerase Confer High-Level Resistance to Psoralen-UVA Irradiation.
  2. The RNA Polymerase alpha Subunit Recognizes the DNA Shape of the Upstream Promoter Element.
    Title: The RNA Polymerase α Subunit Recognizes the DNA Shape of the Upstream Promoter Element.
  3. Backtracked and paused transcription initiation intermediate of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase has been described.
    Title: Backtracked and paused transcription initiation intermediate of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.
  4. Overexpression of recombinant inhibitor of host bacterial RNA polymerase (Gp2) in exponentially growing E. coli induces changes in RNAP behavior at single molecule level and induces global alterations in the transcriptional programme.
    Title: Phenotypic consequences of RNA polymerase dysregulation in Escherichia coli.
  5. Regulatory interplay between RNA polymerase and nascent RNA structure has been described in detail. (Review)
    Title: A Two-Way Street: Regulatory Interplay between RNA Polymerase and Nascent RNA Structure.
  6. The results suggest that interaction between NusA and NusG could play various regulatory roles during transcription, including recruitment of NusG to RNAP, resynchronization of transcription: translation coupling, and modulation of termination efficiency.
    Title: Transcription is regulated by NusA:NusG interaction.
  7. Our investigations provide molecular insights for understanding how EctopoI interacts with RNAP, a critical step for preventing hypernegative DNA supercoiling during transcription
    Title: Characterization of molecular interactions between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and topoisomerase I by molecular simulations.
  8. Ribonucleoprotein particles of bacterial small non-coding RNA IsrA and its interaction with RNA polymerase core may link transcription to mRNA fate.
    Title: Ribonucleoprotein particles of bacterial small non-coding RNA IsrA (IS61 or McaS) and its interaction with RNA polymerase core may link transcription to mRNA fate.
  9. Effects of cooperation between translating ribosome and RNA polymerase on termination efficiency of the Rho-independent terminator have been described.
    Title: Effects of cooperation between translating ribosome and RNA polymerase on termination efficiency of the Rho-independent terminator.
  10. These results support the conclusion that bacteriophage Mu Mor recruits RNA polymerase to the bacteriophage middle promoter P(m) rather than reposition a prebound RNA polymerase.
    Title: Unusual interaction of RNA polymerase with the bacteriophage Mu middle promoter Pm in the absence of its activator protein Mor.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (19)
Products Interactant Other Gene Complex Source Pubs Description

Homology

Gene Ontology Provided by EcoCyc

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables 5'-3' RNA polymerase activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables DNA binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables DNA-directed RNA polymerase activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables protein binding IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
 PubMed 
enables protein dimerization activity IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in DNA-templated transcription IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in DNA-templated transcription initiation IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in bacterial-type flagellum assembly NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in bacterial-type flagellum-dependent cell motility NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in cell motility NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in cellular response to cell envelope stress NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in intracellular iron ion homeostasis NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in nitrate assimilation NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in regulation of DNA-templated transcription elongation NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in regulation of DNA-templated transcription initiation IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in response to heat NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in submerged biofilm formation NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in transcription antitermination IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
Component Evidence Code Pubs
located_in cytoplasm HDA PubMed 
is_active_in cytoplasm IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
located_in cytoplasm IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in cytosol IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
part_of cytosolic DNA-directed RNA polymerase complex IPI
Inferred from Physical Interaction
more info
 PubMed 
located_in membrane HDA PubMed 
part_of transcription elongation factor complex NAS
Non-traceable Author Statement
more info
 PubMed 
Preferred Names
RNA polymerase subunit alpha
NP_417754.1

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Genome Annotation

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference assembly

Genomic

  1. NC_000913.3 Reference assembly

    Range
    3440040..3441029 complement
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NP_417754.1 RNA polymerase subunit alpha

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_417754.1

    Status: REVIEWED

    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    A0A5B9AW69
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    PRK05182
    Location:6 → 316
    PRK05182; DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit alpha; Provisional
Nucleotide Protein
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