Gene expression is reduced when RNAP binds a promoter too tightly. Gene expression is reduced when RNAP binds a promoter too tightly. Shown is measured expression vs. inferred promoter strength −ΔERNAP (stronger promoters on the right). Expression decreases once the RNAP binding becomes comparable to the free energy of the transcription initiation state −ΔEtrans=6.2 kBT. The dashed line shows the prediction of the multivalent model. Tal Einav, and Rob Phillips PNAS doi:10.1073/pnas.1905615116 ©2019 by National Academy of Sciences