Summary
In merodiploid cells containing a double dose of structural genes of RNA polymerase subunits-rpoBand rpoC-the rate of β and β′ subunits synthesis is 2 times higher than in haploidcells. Missence mutation rpoC1 (tsX) alters β′ polypeptide and inducesthe β and β′ subunits synthesis at increased rate, particularly at a nonpermissive temperature. When rpoBCoperon carrying mutation rpoC1 is duplicated no dosage effect is observed. In the rpoC +/rpoC1 heterodiploid the rpoC1 mutation does not significantly accelerate RNA polymerase subunits synthesis i.e. is recessive with respect to rpoC +
Rifampicin causes 6-fold stimulation of RNA polymerase subunits synthesis in a sensitive wild-type strain. The rpoC1 mutation itself accelerates the synthesis of these subunits 3-fold. In the presence of rifampicin the mutant strain produces ββ′ 13–22-fold faster as compared to wild-type strain without the drug. Thus, the effects of rifampicin and the mutation are multiplied suggesting that these factors act independently. Similar data have also been obtained with rifampicin-treated cells of rpoB22 (ts22) amber-mutant.
After UV-irradiation of cells β and β′ synthesis is depressed much stronger than the total protein synthesis. Infection with a transducing phage λ rif d-47 which carries rpoB gene provokes a higher rate of β synthesis. When pre-irradiated cells (500 erg/mm2) are infected with this phage, the rate of β synthesis grows 20-fold compared to irradiated, non-infected cells and 6.5-fold compared to intact cells.
The data are discussed in terms of the possible regulatory mechanisms of RNA polymerase subunit synthesis.
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Bass, I.A., Gorlenko, Z.M., Danilevskaya, O.N. et al. Variations in the rate of synthesis of β and β′ RNA polymerase polypeptides under the influence of certain factors. Molec. Gen. Genet. 154, 101–110 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265583
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265583