Skip to main content
Log in

Evidence against transcription termination within the E. coli lac operon

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

There are 3.5 to 5 times more molecules of β-galactosidase than of galactoside acetyltransferase coded by the lac operon of E. coli (Zabin and Fowler, 1970). This natural polarity does not result from premature transcription termination; each RNA polymerase appears to transcribe to the end of the operon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Achord, D., Kennell, D.: Metabolism of messenger RNA from the gal operon of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. (in press, 1974)

  • Anderson, E.H.: Growth requirements of virus-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 32, 120–128 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blundell, M., Craig, E., Kennell, D.: Decay rates of different mRNA in E. coli and models of decay. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 238, 46–49 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Blundell, M., Kennell, D.: Evidence for endonucleolytic attack in decay of lac messenger RNA in Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 83, 143–161 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCrombrugghe, B., Adhya, S., Gottesman, M., Pastan, I.: Effect of rho on transcription of bacterial operons. Nature (Lond.) New Biol 241, 260–264 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eron, L., Beckwith, J. R., Jacob, F.: Deletion of translation start signals in the lac operon of E. coli. The lactose operon. J. R. Beckwith, D. Zipser (eds.), p. 353–358. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, W., Maxam, A.: The nucleotide sequence of the lac operator. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 3581–3584 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ippen, K., Shapiro, J.A., Beckwith, J.R.: Transposition of the lac region of the Escherichia coli chromosome: Isolation of lac transducing bacteriophages. J. Bact. 108, 5–9 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennell, D., Simmons, C.: Synthesis and decay of messenger ribonucleic acid from the lactose operon of Escherichia coli during amino-acid starvation. J. molec. Biol. 70, 451–464 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kepes, A.: Sequential transcription and translation in the lactose operon of Escherichia coli. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 138, 107–123 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Maizels, N.M.: The nucleotide sequence of the lactose messenger ribonucleic acid transcribed from the UV5 promoter mutant of Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 3585–3589 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Malamy, M.H., Fiandt, M., Szybalski, W.: Electron microscopy of polar insertions in the lac operon of Escherichia coli. Molec. gen. Genet. 119, 207–222 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse, D.E., Mosteller, R., Yanofsky, C.: Dynamics of synthesis, translation, and degradation of trp operon messenger RNA in E. coli. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 34, 725–740 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pastushok, C., Kennell, D.: Residual polarity and transcription/translation coupling during recovery from chloramphenicol or fusidic acid. J. Bact. 117, 631–640 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, J.W.: Termination factor for RNA synthesis. Nature (Lond.) 224, 1168–1174 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, T., Craig, E., Kennell, D.: Inactivation and degradation of messenger ribonucleic acid from the lactose operon of Escherichia coli. J. molec. Biol. 54, 299–311 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, C., Billeter, M.A., Goodman, H.M., Hindely, J., Weber, H.: Structure and function of phage RNA. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 42, 303–328 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zabin, I., Fowler, A.V.: β-Galactosidase and thiogalactoside transacetylase. The lactose operon. J.R. Beckwith, D. Zipser (eds.), p. 27–47. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalkin, H., Yanofsky, C., Squires, C.L.: Regulated in vitro synthesis of Escherichia coli tryptophan operon messenger ribonucleic acid and enzymes. J. biol. Chem. 249, 465–475 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by W. Gilbert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lim, L.W., Kennell, D. Evidence against transcription termination within the E. coli lac operon. Molec. gen. Genet. 133, 367–371 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332713

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332713

Keywords

Navigation