Distal regulatory functions for the uvrC gene of E. coli.

We find that the uvrC gene is preceded by three promoters (P1, P2 and P3), identified by heparin-resistant RNA polymerase-DNA complex formation, P2 and P3 promoters are located proximal to the 5' end of the uvrC gene, while the P1 promoter is separated from the uvrC structural gene by an interposed DNA region of more than 1 kb. We have reported that P2 and P3 are not sufficient to promote uvrC complementation. However, plasmids containing the direct fusion of the P1 promoter to the uvrC gene complements the uvrC defect. Insertion of IS1 downstream from the P1 promoter leads to efficient synthesis of the uvrC protein as measured in maxicells. Fusion of the lac promoter to the uvrC structural gene can substitute for in vivo regulatory functions. We conclude that uvrC protein synthesis is controlled in a complex manner and that a distal promoter, P1, is required.