Richard Gourse
Ira L. Baldwin Professor, Chair of Department of Bacteriology
Ph.D., Brown University, 1980
Postdoctoral Research: Brown University and University of Wisconsin
Address: 5470 Microbial Sciences Building
Telephone: 262-9813
E-mail: rgourse@bact.wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Mechanism of transcription initiation, regulation of gene expression in bacteria
Research Fields:
Gene Expression
Microbial Genetics
Research Description: We study the molecular biology of gene expression, primarily in Escherichia coli, including the mechanism of transcription initiation, the architecture of transcription complexes, the relationship between structure and function in subunits of RNA polymerase (RNAP), and the mechanisms by which the transcription apparatus responds to signals from inside and outside of the cell.
We focus on ribosomal RNA transcription and the control of ribosome synthesis in E. coli, because ribosome synthesis is of central importance to cell function, because rRNA promoters account for the majority of transcription in the cell, and because rRNA promoters display a fascinating, complex network of regulatory responses. Our study of these promoters has provided insights into promoter recognition and the mechanism of transcription initiation relevant to all promoters. Current projects in the lab include studies about interactions of RNAP with promoters, RNAP interactions with the transcription factor Fis, the role of the C-terminal domain of the a subunit of RNAP in stimulating transcription, the mechanisms of regulation of RNAP by changing NTP and ppGpp concentrations, how the transcription factor DksA modifies RNAP and changes its kinetic properties, how rRNA, r-protein, amino acid biosynthesis, and flagellar promoters are also regulated by DksA/ppGpp, and how Crl stimulates the assembly of RNAP. Recently, we have been using the tools of cell biology to explore the positions of genes in three-dimensional space in the bacterial nucleoid. We have determined that bacteria have a nucleolus (i.e. a compartment where rRNA operons co-localize in cells). Projects in our lab thereby introduce students to a unique blend of microbial physiology, genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, structural biology, and molecular modeling.
Representative Publications:
Lemke JJ, Sanchez-Vazquez P, Burgos HL,
Hedberg G, Ross W, Gourse RL. 2011. Direct regulation of Escherichia coli
ribosomal protein promoters by the transcription factors ppGpp and DksA. Proc Natl
Acad Sci USA 108:5712-5717.
Rutherford, S.T., Villers, C.L., Lee, J.-H., Ross, W., Gourse, R.L. 2009. Allosteric control of Escherichia coli rRNA promoter complexes by DksA. Genes Dev. 23: 236-248.
Haugen, S.P., Ross, W., Gourse, R.L. 2008. Advances in bacterial promoter recognition and its control by factors that do not bind DNA. Nature Reviews/Microbiology 6:507-519. (review)
Vrentas, C.E., Gaal, T., Berkmen, M.B., Rutherford, S.T., Haugen, S.P., Ross, W., Vassylyev, D., Gourse, R.L. 2008. Still looking for the magic spot: the crystallographically-defined binding site for ppGpp on RNA
polymerase is unlikely to be responsible for rRNA transcription regulation. J. Mol. Biol. 377:551-564
Haugen, S.P., Berkmen, M.B., Ross, W., Gaal, T., Ward, C., Gourse, R.L. 2006. rRNA promoter regulation by nonoptimal binding of sigma region 1.2: an additional recognition element for RNA polymerase. Cell. 125:1069-1082.
Paul, B.J., Barker, M.M., Ross, W., Schneider, D.A., Webb, C., Foster, J.W. Gourse, R.L. 2004. DksA: A critical component of the transcription initiation machinery that potentiates the regulation of rRNA promoters by ppGpp and the initiating NTP. Cell. 118:311-322.
Ira L. Baldwin Professor, Chair of Department of Bacteriology
Ph.D., Brown University, 1980
Postdoctoral Research: Brown University and University of Wisconsin
Address: 5470 Microbial Sciences Building
Telephone: 262-9813
E-mail: rgourse@bact.wisc.edu
Research Interests:
Mechanism of transcription initiation, regulation of gene expression in bacteria
Research Fields:
Gene Expression
Microbial Genetics
We study the molecular biology of gene expression, primarily in Escherichia coli, including the mechanism of transcription initiation, the architecture of transcription complexes, the relationship between structure and function in subunits of RNA polymerase (RNAP), and the mechanisms by which the transcription apparatus responds to signals from inside and outside of the cell.
We focus on ribosomal RNA transcription and the control of ribosome synthesis in E. coli, because ribosome synthesis is of central importance to cell function, because rRNA promoters account for the majority of transcription in the cell, and because rRNA promoters display a fascinating, complex network of regulatory responses. Our study of these promoters has provided insights into promoter recognition and the mechanism of transcription initiation relevant to all promoters. Current projects in the lab include studies about interactions of RNAP with promoters, RNAP interactions with the transcription factor Fis, the role of the C-terminal domain of the a subunit of RNAP in stimulating transcription, the mechanisms of regulation of RNAP by changing NTP and ppGpp concentrations, how the transcription factor DksA modifies RNAP and changes its kinetic properties, how rRNA, r-protein, amino acid biosynthesis, and flagellar promoters are also regulated by DksA/ppGpp, and how Crl stimulates the assembly of RNAP. Recently, we have been using the tools of cell biology to explore the positions of genes in three-dimensional space in the bacterial nucleoid. We have determined that bacteria have a nucleolus (i.e. a compartment where rRNA operons co-localize in cells). Projects in our lab thereby introduce students to a unique blend of microbial physiology, genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, structural biology, and molecular modeling.
Lemke JJ, Sanchez-Vazquez P, Burgos HL, Hedberg G, Ross W, Gourse RL. 2011. Direct regulation of Escherichia coli ribosomal protein promoters by the transcription factors ppGpp and DksA. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:5712-5717.
Rutherford, S.T., Villers, C.L., Lee, J.-H., Ross, W., Gourse, R.L. 2009. Allosteric control of Escherichia coli rRNA promoter complexes by DksA. Genes Dev. 23: 236-248.Haugen, S.P., Ross, W., Gourse, R.L. 2008. Advances in bacterial promoter recognition and its control by factors that do not bind DNA. Nature Reviews/Microbiology 6:507-519. (review)
Vrentas, C.E., Gaal, T., Berkmen, M.B., Rutherford, S.T., Haugen, S.P., Ross, W., Vassylyev, D., Gourse, R.L. 2008. Still looking for the magic spot: the crystallographically-defined binding site for ppGpp on RNA
polymerase is unlikely to be responsible for rRNA transcription regulation. J. Mol. Biol. 377:551-564
Haugen, S.P., Berkmen, M.B., Ross, W., Gaal, T., Ward, C., Gourse, R.L. 2006. rRNA promoter regulation by nonoptimal binding of sigma region 1.2: an additional recognition element for RNA polymerase. Cell. 125:1069-1082.
Paul, B.J., Barker, M.M., Ross, W., Schneider, D.A., Webb, C., Foster, J.W. Gourse, R.L. 2004. DksA: A critical component of the transcription initiation machinery that potentiates the regulation of rRNA promoters by ppGpp and the initiating NTP. Cell. 118:311-322.
