Localization of the sequence-determined DNA bending center upstream of the streptokinase gene skc.

DNA sequences upstream of the core promoter region of the streptokinase gene (skc) from Streptococcus equisimilis H46A increase skc transcription more than tenfold in vivo. This promoter upstream region contains a segment of intrinsically bent DNA, the precise location of which was determined experimentally by circular permutation analysis and theoretically by computer prediction. Electrophoretic analysis of circularly permuted upstream DNA fragments placed the bend center approximately at position -100 with respect to the major transcription initiation site of skc. This position was in excellent agreement with the center of maximum curvature predicted theoretically. Knowledge of the precise location of the bend center will be useful for future studies of the possible effect of DNA bending on skc transcription.