Nascent RNA sequencing identifies a widespread sigma70-dependent pausing regulated by Gre factors in bacteria

Promoter-proximal pausing regulates eukaryotic gene expression and serves as checkpoints to assemble elongation/splicing machinery. Little is known how broadly this type of pausing regulates transcription in bacteria. We apply nascent elongating transcript sequencing combined with RNase I footprinting for genome-wide analysis of σ(70)-dependent transcription pauses in Escherichia coli. Retention of σ(70) induces strong backtracked pauses at a 10−20-bp distance from many promoters. The pauses in the 10−15-bp register of the promoter are dictated by the canonical −10 element, 6−7 nt spacer and “YR(+1)Y” motif centered at the transcription start site. The promoters for the pauses in the 16−20-bp register contain an additional −10-like sequence recognized by σ(70). Our in vitro analysis reveals that DNA scrunching is involved in these pauses relieved by Gre cleavage factors. The genes coding for transcription factors are enriched in these pauses, suggesting that σ(70) and Gre proteins regulate transcription in response to changing environmental cues.