Change in inorganic phosphate physical state can regulate transcription. Issue 4 (20th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gottesman, Max E.; Mustaev, Arkady
• Is Part Of: Transcription. Volume 10:Issue 4/5(2019)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2019-10-20
• Subjects: precipitated magnesium phosphate -- RNA polymerase -- initiation -- inhibition; Genetic transcription -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2019.1682454
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2154-1264

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Inorganic phosphate (Pi ), a ubiquitous metabolite, is involved in all major biochemical pathways. We demonstrate that, in vitro, MgHPO4 (the intracellular Pi form) at physiological concentrations can exist in a metastable supersaturated dissolved state or as a precipitate. We have shown that in solution, MgHPO4 strongly stimulates exonuclease nascent transcript cleavage by RNA polymerase. We report here that MgHPO4 precipitate selectively and efficiently inhibits transcription initiation in vitro . In view of the MgHPO4 solubility and in vitro sensitivity of RNA synthesis to MgHPO4 precipitate, at physiological concentrations, MgHPO4 should cause a 50–98% inhibition of cellular RNA synthesis, thus exerting a strong regulatory action. The effects of Pi on transcription in vivo will, therefore, reflect the physical state of intracellular Pi .