Lesson plan
Specificity factor
A specificity factor is an amino acid sequence that mediates target recognition in RNA polymerase. An example is the sigma subunit of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme which regulates a binding σ subunit of molecular weight 70 kDa. Under some conditions, some of the 70-kDa subunits are replaced by one of the other, more-specific factors. For instance, when bacteria are subjected to heat stress, some of the 70-kDa subunits are replaced by a 32-kDa subunit; when bound to σ32, RNA polymerase is directed to a specialized set of promoters with a different consensus sequence.
Article summary
A specificity factor is an amino acid sequence that mediates target recognition in RNA polymerase. An example is the sigma subunit of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme which regulates a binding σ subunit of molecular weight 70 kDa. Under some conditions, some of the 70-kDa subunits are replaced by one of the other, more-specific factors. For instance, when bacteria are subjected to heat stress, some of the 70-kDa subunits are replaced by a 32-kDa subunit; when bound to σ32, RNA polymerase is directed to a specialized set of promoters with a different consensus sequence.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.