In vivo organization of bacterial transcription initiation complexes at a genome-scale [ChIP-seq]

RNA polymerase (RNAP) is essential for the transcription of genetic information encoded in genomes in all three domains of life. To determine the precise organization of bacterial transcription initiation complexes (TIC) in vivo, we exploited high-throughput sequencing to the DNA obtained from exonuclease-treated immunoprecipitates of the TIC. It reveals that sigma (σ) factor is mostly engaged in RNAP holoenzyme up to 13-14 nucleotides from transcription start site during abortive initiation. ChIP-seq profiles of Sigma 70, RNAP (+Rifampicin), and RNAP (-Rifampicin) were generated by deep sequencing in duplicates using Illumina MiSeq.