RNA polymerases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae respond to Escherichia coli activator proteins.

The activities of RNA polymerases (RNAPs) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae were compared with that of Escherichia coli RNAP. All three enzymes are able to initiate transcription at the trpBA promoter of P. aeruginosa and at the coliphage lambda promoters, pRM and pRE, in response to heterospecific activators (TrpI protein, repressor, and cII protein, respectively). However, both Pseudomonas polymerases have less stringent requirements for promoter recognition in the absence of activators than does E. coli RNAP.