Molecular basis for RNA polymerase-dependent transcription complex recycling by the helicase-like motor protein HelD

Gram-positive bacteria contain a transcription factor HelD that is able to remove and recycle stalled transcription complexes. Here the authors provide mechanistic insights into this process by determining the cryo-EM structures of the Bacillus subtilis RNA polymerase (RNAP) elongation complex and the RNAP-HelD transcription recycling complex and propose a model of HelD catalysed transcription recycling.