Skip to main content
Log in

A mutation in the RNA polymerase β′ subunit causing depressed ribosomal RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli

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

Summary

Macromolecular synthesis in an Escherichia coli mutant with a temperature-sensitive β′ subunit of RNA polymerase was analysed. At the non-permissive temperature ribosomal RNA synthesis is strongly reduced while messenger RNA synthesis is affected to only a slight extent. The overall protein synthesis is only slightly affected. We conclude that the β′ subunit is involved in promoter recognition and plays a role in transcriptional selectivity.

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.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boer HA de, Bakker AJ, Weyer WJ, Gruber M (1976) The role of energy-generating processes in the degradation of guanosine tetraphosphate, ppGpp, in Escherichia coli. Biochim Biophys Acta 432:361–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess R, Travers A, Dunn JJ, Bautz EKF (1969) Factor stimulating transcription by RNA polymerase. Nature 221:43–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashel M (1969) The control of ribonucleic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli. IV Relevance of unusual phosphorylated compounds from amino acid-starved stringent strains. J Biol Chem 244:3133–3141

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashel M, Gallant J (1969) Two compounds implicated in the function of the RC gene of Escherichia coli. Nature 221:838–841

    Google Scholar 

  • Claeys IV, Miller JH, Kirschbaum JB, Nasi S, Morholt B, Gross G, Fields DA, Bautz EKF (1976) Altered RNA polymerases resulting from temperature sensitive mutations in the rif region of the E. coli chromosome. pp 56–65. In: Kieldgaard NO, Maaløe O (eds) Control of ribosome synthesis. Munksgaard, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Giorno R, Stamato T, Lydersen B, Pettijohn DE (1975) Transcription in vitro of DNA in isolated bacterial nucleoids. J Mol Biol 96:217–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross GC, Fields DA, Bautz EKF (1976) Characterization of ts β′ mutant RNA polymerase of Escherichia coli. Mol Gen Genet 147:337–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross GC, Fields DA, Bautz EKF (1977) Temperature-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli with defects in the assembly of RNA polymerase in vitro. Eur J Biochem 81:333–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Gruber M, Hamming J, De Lange FSF, Oostra BA, Van Ooyen AJJ (1978) Control of E. coli rDNA transcription in vivo and in vitro. pp 145–152. In: Clark BFC, Klenow H, Zeuthen J (eds) Gene expression, vol 43. Pergamon Press, Oxford and New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamming J, AB G, Gruber M (1980) E. coli RNA polymerase-rRNA promoter interaction and the effect of ppGpp. Nucl Acids Res 8:3947–3963

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen UM, McClure WR (1980) Role of the σ subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in initiation. II Release of σ from ternary complexes. J Biol Chem 255:9564–9570

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishihama A, Fukuda R (1980) Autogenous and post-transcriptional regulation of RNA polymerase synthesis. Mol Cell Biochem 31:177–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen P, Fiil NF (1976) Ribosomal RNA synthesis in vitro In: Kjeldgaard NO, Malløe O (eds) Control of ribosome synthesis. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, pp 370–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Kajiyani M, Fukuda R, Ishihama A (1980) Autogenous and post-transcriptional regulation of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase synthesis in vitro. Mol Gen Genet 179:489–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschbaum JB, Claeys IV, Nasi S, Morholt B, Miller JH (1975) Temperature-sensitive RNA polymerase mutants with altered subunit synthesis and degradation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72:2375–2379

    Google Scholar 

  • Klundert JAM van den (1978) Mutants of Escherichia coli altered in the elongation factor EF-Tu. Thesis, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

  • Lazzarini RA, Cashel M, Gallant J (1971) On the regulation of guanosine tetraphosphate levels in stringent and relaxed strains of Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 246:4381–4385

    Google Scholar 

  • Matzura H (1980) Regulation of biosynthesis of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli. In: Horecker BL, Stadtman ER (eds) Current topics in cellular regulation, vol 17. Academic Press, New York, pp 89–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller JH (1972) Experiments in molecular genetics. Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Oostra BA, Zantinge B, Van Goor AL, Van Ooyen AJJ, Gruber M (1976) A rapid and sensitive determination of bacterial rRNA by means of hybridization-competition. Anal Biochem 74:496–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Oostra BA, AB G, Gruber M (1980) Involvement of DNA gyrase in the transcription of ribosomal RNA. Nucl Acids Res 8:4235–4246

    Google Scholar 

  • Stamato TD, Pettijohn DE (1971) Regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis in stringent bacteria. Nature (London) New Biol 234:99–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugiura M, Segawa K, Yoshinaga K, Yu F, Ito N, Yasuda S, Hirota Y (1977) A temperature-sensitive mutant of Escherichia coli with an altered RNA polymerase β′ subunit. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 76:739–745

    Google Scholar 

  • Taketo M, Ishihama A, Kirschbaum JB (1976) Biosynthesis of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli. VII Regulation of ββ operon on lambda transducing phage in assembly-defective mutants. Mol Gen Genet 147:139–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Travers AA (1980) Promoter sequence for stringent control of bacterial ribonucleic acid synthesis. J Bacteriol 141:973–976

    Google Scholar 

  • Travers AA, Buckland R, Debenham PG (1980) Functional heterogeneity of Escherichia coli ribonucleic acid polymerase holoenzyme. Biochemistry 19:1656–1662

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto M, Nomura M (1978) Cotranscription of genes for RNA polymerase subunits β and β′ with genes for ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:3891–3895

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshinaga K, Sugiura M (1977) Physiological studies on a temperature-sensitive Escherichia coli mutant with an altered RNA polymerase β′ subunit. Biochim Biophys Acta 479:172–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Yura T, Ishihama A (1979) Genetics of bacterial RNA polymerase. Annu Rev Genet 13:59–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Zillig W, Palm P, Sethi VS, Zechel K, Rabussay D, Heil A, Seifert W, Schachner M (1970) On the role of different subunits of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli in the transcription process. In: Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 35, Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zillig W, Palm P, Heil A (1976) Function and reassembly of subunits of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In: Losick R, Chamberlin M (eds) RNA polymerase. Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York, pp 101–125

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by A. Böck

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oostra, B.A., Kok, K., Van Vliet, A.J. et al. A mutation in the RNA polymerase β′ subunit causing depressed ribosomal RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli . Molec. Gen. Genet. 183, 54–58 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270138

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270138

Keywords

Navigation