Richard L. Gourse

Work on bacterial gene expression led to identification of two new promoter elements: the UP element recognized by the CTD of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit and sequences downstream of position -10 recognized by sigma region 1.2. Discovered that FIS protein is a transcription activator, elucidated the mechanism of regulation by the alarmone ppGpp, and uncovered the role of the initiating nucleoside triphosphate concentration in regulation of rRNA promoter initiation due to the kinetic properties of the rRNA promoters. Work also prompted discovery of the RNAP binding protein DksA as a transcription factor that modulates rRNA promoter activity through physiological changes in initiating NTP and ppGpp concentrations. Then found that ribosomal protein synthesis and rRNA synthesis are regulated by ppGpp/DksA modifying the standing model that feedback control of ribosomal protein translation is solely responsible for coordinate synthesis of ribosome components. These elements and mechanisms are involved in the regulation of many bacterial promoters.