Low-molecular weight inhibitors of bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase

In this review, current data on low molecular weight inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerases, both classical and those recently discovered, are summarised. This area has progressed rapidly in recent years largely due to availability of high-resolution structures of RNA polymerase and its complexes with inhibitors. The structural information, together with biochemical data, allows to understand molecular mechanisms of transcription inhibition by rifampicin, sorangicin, tagetitoxin, streptolydigin, and microcin J25. In its turn, the mechanistic understanding of the action of these inhibitors provides better understanding of transcription mechanism and RNA polymerase structure-function.