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In vitro transcription of three different ribosomal RNA cistrons of E. coli; heterogeneity of control regions

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Summary

Ribosomal RNA synthesis from three different rRNA cistrons of E. coli, located on different phage DNAs was compared and found to have the same characteristics as regards chain length, salt and temperature dependence and the effect of ppGpp. However, some clear and reproducible quantitative differences between rRNA synthesis from the different templates both in presence and absence of ppGpp were found. Rifampicin and heparin experiments showed that these differences were located at the initiation sites.

We propose that heterogeneity exists in the RNA polymerase binding regions of the rRNA promoters in E. coli.

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Author notes

  1. Albert J. J. van Ooyen

    Present address: Institut für Molekularbiologie, Universität Zürich, Hönggerberg, CH-8049, Zürich, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemisch Laboratorium, The University, Zernikelaan, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Ben A. Oostra, Albert J. J. van Ooyen & Max Gruber

Authors
  1. Ben A. Oostra
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  2. Albert J. J. van Ooyen
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  3. Max Gruber
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Communicated by F. Gros

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Oostra, B.A., van Ooyen, A.J.J. & Gruber, M. In vitro transcription of three different ribosomal RNA cistrons of E. coli; heterogeneity of control regions. Molec. Gen. Genet. 152, 1–6 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00264932

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