Biosynthesis of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli

Partitioning of RNA polymerase activity in live Escherichia coli from analysis of single-molecule diffusive trajectories

Superresolution fluorescence microscopy is used to locate single copies of RNA polymerase (RNAP) in live Escherichia coli and track their diffusive motion. On a timescale of 0.1-1 s, most copies separate remarkably cleanly into two diffusive states. The "slow" RNAPs, which move indistinguishably from DNA loci, are assigned to specifically bound copies (with fractional population ftrxn) that are initiating transcription, elongating, pausing, or awaiting termination. The "mixed-state" RNAP copies, with effective diffusion constant Dmixed = 0.21 μm(2) s(-1), are assigned as a rapidly exchanging mixture of nonspecifically bound copies (fns) and copies undergoing free, three-dimensional diffusion within the nucleoids (ffree). Longer trajectories of 7-s duration reveal transitions between the slow and mixed states, corroborating the assignments. Short trajectories of 20-ms duration enable direct observation of the freely diffusing RNAP copies, yielding Dfree = 0.7 μm(2) s(-1). Analysis of single-particle trajectories provides quantitative estimates of the partitioning of RNAP into different states of activity: ftrxn = 0.54 ± 0.07, fns = 0.28 ± 0.05, ffree = 0.12 ± 0.03, and fnb = 0.06 ± 0.05 (fraction unable to bind to DNA on a 1-s timescale). These fractions disagree with earlier estimates.

A 'resource allocator' for transcription based on a highly fragmented T7 RNA polymerase

Synthetic genetic systems share resources with the host, including machinery for transcription and translation. Phage RNA polymerases (RNAPs) decouple transcription from the host and generate high expression. However, they can exhibit toxicity and lack accessory proteins (σ factors and activators) that enable switching between different promoters and modulation of activity. Here, we show that T7 RNAP (883 amino acids) can be divided into four fragments that have to be co-expressed to function. The DNA-binding loop is encoded in a C-terminal 285-aa ‘σ fragment’, and fragments with different specificity can direct the remaining 601-aa ‘core fragment’ to different promoters. Using these parts, we have built a resource allocator that sets the core fragment concentration, which is then shared by multiple σ fragments. Adjusting the concentration of the core fragment sets the maximum transcriptional capacity available to a synthetic system. Further, positive and negative regulation is implemented using a 67-aa N-terminal ‘α fragment’ and a null (inactivated) σ fragment, respectively. The α fragment can be fused to recombinant proteins to make promoters responsive to their levels. These parts provide a toolbox to allocate transcriptional resources via different schemes, which we demonstrate by building a system which adjusts promoter activity to compensate for the difference in copy number of two plasmids.

Deep sequencing-based analysis of the anaerobic stimulon in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

BACKGROUND

Maintenance of an anaerobic denitrification system in the obligate human pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, suggests that an anaerobic lifestyle may be important during the course of infection. Furthermore, mounting evidence suggests that reduction of host-produced nitric oxide has several immunomodulary effects on the host. However, at this point there have been no studies analyzing the complete gonococcal transcriptome response to anaerobiosis. Here we performed deep sequencing to compare the gonococcal transcriptomes of aerobically and anaerobically grown cells. Using the information derived from this sequencing, we discuss the implications of the robust transcriptional response to anaerobic growth.

RESULTS

We determined that 198 chromosomal genes were differentially expressed (~10% of the genome) in response to anaerobic conditions. We also observed a large induction of genes encoded within the cryptic plasmid, pJD1. Validation of RNA-seq data using translational-lacZ fusions or RT-PCR demonstrated the RNA-seq results to be very reproducible. Surprisingly, many genes of prophage origin were induced anaerobically, as well as several transcriptional regulators previously unknown to be involved in anaerobic growth. We also confirmed expression and regulation of a small RNA, likely a functional equivalent of fnrS in the Enterobacteriaceae family. We also determined that many genes found to be responsive to anaerobiosis have also been shown to be responsive to iron and/or oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Gonococci will be subject to many forms of environmental stress, including oxygen-limitation, during the course of infection. Here we determined that the anaerobic stimulon in gonococci was larger than previous studies would suggest. Many new targets for future research have been uncovered, and the results derived from this study may have helped to elucidate factors or mechanisms of virulence that may have otherwise been overlooked.

Insights into transcriptional regulation and sigma competition from an equilibrium model of RNA polymerase binding to DNA

To explore scenarios that permit transcription regulation by activator recruitment of RNA polymerase and sigma competition in vivo, we used an equilibrium model of RNA polymerase binding to DNA constrained by the values of total RNA polymerase (E) and sigma(70) per cell measured in this work. Our numbers of E and sigma(70) per cell, which are consistent with most of the primary data in the literature, suggest that in vivo (i) only a minor fraction of RNA polymerase (<20%) is involved in elongation and (ii) sigma(70) is in excess of total E. Modeling the partitioning of RNA polymerase between promoters, nonspecific DNA binding sites, and the cytoplasm suggested that even weak promoters will be saturated with Esigma(70) in vivo unless nonspecific DNA binding by Esigma(70) is rather significant. In addition, the model predicted that sigmas compete for binding to E only when their total number exceeds the total amount of RNA polymerase (excluding that involved in elongation) and that weak promoters will be preferentially subjected to sigma competition.

Free RNA polymerase and modeling global transcription in Escherichia coli

Growth rate-dependent changes in the cytoplasmic concentration of free functional RNA polymerase, [R(f)], affect the activity of all bacterial genes. Since [R(f)] is not accessible to direct experimental quantitation, it can only be found indirectly from an evaluation of promoter activity data. Here, a theory has been derived to calculate [R(f)] from the concentrations of total RNA polymerase and promoters in a model system with known Michaelis-Menten constants for the polymerase-promoter interactions. The theory takes transcript lengths and elongation rates into account and predicts how [R(f)] changes with varying gene dosages. From experimental data on total concentrations of RNA polymerase and kinetic properties of different classes of promoters, the theory was developed into a mathematical model that reproduces the global transcriptional control in Escherichia coli growing at different rates. The model allows an estimation of the concentrations of free and DNA-bound RNA polymerase, as well as the partitioning of RNA polymerase into mRNA and stable RNA synthesizing fractions. According to this model, [R(f)] is about 0.4 and 1.2 microM at growth rates corresponding to 1.0 and 2.5 doublings/h, respectively. The model accurately reflects a number of further experimental observations and suggests that the free RNA polymerase concentration increases with increasing growth rate.

Cytoplasmic RNA Polymerase in Escherichia coli

To obtain an estimate for the concentration of free functional RNA polymerase in the bacterial cytoplasm, the content of RNA polymerase beta and beta' subunits in DNA-free minicells from the minicell-producing Escherichia coli strain chi925 was determined. In bacteria grown in Luria-Bertani medium at 2.5 doublings/h, 1.0% of the total protein was RNA polymerase. The concentration of cytoplasmic RNA polymerase beta and beta' subunits in minicells produced by this strain corresponded to about 17% (or 2.5 microM) of the value found in whole cells. Literature data suggest that a similar portion of cytoplasmic RNA polymerase subunits is in RNA polymerase assembly intermediates and imply that free functional RNA polymerase can form a small percentage of the total functional enzyme in the cell. On infection with bacteriophage T7, 20% of the minicells produced progeny phage, whereas infection in 80% of the cells was abortive. RNA polymerase subunits in lysozyme-freeze-thaw lysates of minicells were associated with minicell envelopes and were without detectable activity in an in vitro transcription assay. Together, these results suggest that most functional RNA polymerase is associated with the DNA and that little if any segregates into DNA-free minicells.

Regulation of alpha operon gene expression in Escherichia coli. A novel form of translational coupling

The alpha operon of Escherichia coli contains the genes for ribosomal proteins S13, S11, S4, RNA polymerase subunit alpha, and r-protein L17, in this order. Previous studies have shown that translation of all four ribosomal proteins is regulated by S4, and that binding of S4 to the mRNA at the start site for S13 translation is probably responsible for the regulation of translation of S13, S11 and S4. The alpha gene is "unique" in that it is located between the genes for two ribosomal proteins (S4 and L17) and yet appears to be regulated independently of them. In the present studies, we have measured the synthesis rates of all the alpha operon proteins under a variety of physiological conditions. Our results confirm that alpha gene expression is regulated independently of the co-transcribed ribosomal protein genes and is relatively insensitive to translational feedback repression by S4. S1 nuclease analysis of alpha operon mRNA failed to reveal the presence of any unique transcription start or mRNA cleavage that leads to separation of the alpha cistron from preceding ribosomal protein cistrons. Therefore, it appears that differential regulation of alpha synthesis takes place at the level of mRNA translation. We have also carried out a deletion analysis of the alpha operon leader and identified a region of the alpha operon leader mRNA that is required for regulation by S4. Furthermore, deletion of this region results in increased synthesis of L17 together with S13, S11 and S4, whereas alpha synthesis did not increase significantly. Therefore, we conclude that interaction of S4 with this single target site results in translational repression of not only the proximal three cistrons for S13, S11 and S4 but also that of the last cistron, L17, without affecting the intervening alpha cistron.

The operon that encodes the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase also encodes ribosomal protein S21 and DNA primase in E. coli K12

The sigma subunit of E. coli RNA polymerase is encoded by the rpoD gene. Within the sequence upstream from rpoD, we have identified the structural genes rpsU and dnaG, which encode the 30S ribosomal protein S21 and DNA primase, respectively. The three genes are in the order rpsU, dnaG rpoD, and are all encoded by the same DNA strand. Analysis of in vivo transcripts from this region shows that these genes are all within the same operon. By correlating the 5' and 3' ends of in vivo transcripts with our DNA sequence, we have identified several regulatory features of the operon. These features include tandem promoters upstream from rpsU, a terminator between rpsU and dnaG, an RNA processing site separating dnaG and rpoD, and the operon terminator just downstream from rpoD. Immediately upstream of the operon promoters is an active promoter for an unidentified gene. We discuss the regulatory significance of the operon features and the biological significance of an operon encoding proteins essential for translation, replication and transcription.

[Nucleoside polyphosphates: occurrence, metabolism and function]

Procaryotes have regulatory systems allowing to vary the metabolism in response to nutritional variations, to reduce the growth, and to start development. Nucleoside polyphosphates are mediators of coordinated alterations of metabolism. In this review, after a brief recall of the characteristics of the stringent response, the occurrence, determinations, and the metabolism of the nucleoside polyphosphates are presented. The representation of the pleiotropic effects includes the regulation of the protein synthesis and of the protein synthesis apparatus, of the protein turnover, of the N- and carbohydrate metabolism, of the formation of cell membranes and cell walls as well as the possible function of the development.

Temperature dependence of RNA synthesis parameters in Escherichia coli

For Escherichia coli B/r growing in glucose minimal medium, the following parameters of RNA synthesis remained invariant between 20 and 40 degrees C: RNA polymerase concentration (RNA polymerase/mass), rRNA and tRNA concentration (RNA/mass), RNA polymerase activity (fraction of total RNA polymerase actively engaged in RNA chain elongation), and stable RNA synthesis relative to total RNA synthesis. The following parameters increased 3.4-fold over the same temperature range: rRNA chain elongation rate, guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) concentration, and culture growth rate. Above 40 degrees C, the changes became more complex, and the growth rate began to decrease. The observation that most RNA synthesis parameters are temperature invariant despite the increase of ppGpp suggests that the mechanism of RNA synthesis control by ppGpp, assumed to involve an interaction of RNA polymerase wtih ppGpp, is itself temperature dependent such that, with increasing temperature, higher concentrations of ppGpp are required to affect the RNA polymerase.

RNA polymerase subunit biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis

The relative rates of RNA polymerase biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis has been examined under steady-state growth conditions. The synthesis of RNA polymerase subunits (alpha, beta, beta', omega) has been followed by subunit fractionation of immunoprecipitated [3H]-labelled samples on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The stoichiometries of alpha:beta:beta':omega subunits have been determined from cultures pulse-labelled during steady-state growth. The results suggest that an unassembled pool of the alpha-subunit exists from which the holoenzyme is formed. Upon shift-up from acetate to glycerol containing medium, a rapid rise in the differential rate of core enzyme synthesis was observed, while the rate of synthesis of the alpha-subunit was not stimulated. During shift-down, a concomitant reduction in the rate of synthesis of all subunits occurred for the first 20 min after the shift; thereafter, a rate of synthesis characteristic of the new growth rate was established. As cultures enter sporulation, an immediate reduction in the rate of beta beta'-subunit synthesis was demonstrated.

Effects of reduced amount of RNA polymerase sigma factor on gene expression and growth of Escherichia coli: studies of the rpoD450 (amber) mutation

A mutant of Escherichia coli K-12 carrying an amber mutation (rpoD40) in the structural gene for RNA polymerase sigma factor and a temperature-sensitive amber suppressor (supF-Ts6) grows virtually normally at 30 degrees C, but does not grow at 42 degrees C due to the inability to synthesize sigma polypeptides (Osawa, T. and Yura, T., Mol Gen Genet 180, 293 - 300, 1980). When the mutant cells are transferred from 30 to 42 degrees C, the cellular amount of sigma relative to total protein is found to decrease from 50% (at 30 degrees C) to 10% of the wild-type level after about 2 h. The decrease of sigma is accompanied by a gradual decrease in RNA and protein syntheses and a sudden loss of viability. At the highest temperature (36 degrees C) that permits steady growth of this mutant, the amount of sigma and the growth rate become 6% and 50 to 60% of the wild type, respectively. These results suggest that the minimum level of sigma required for growth is 0.02 to 0.04 in terms of molar ratio of sigma to core enzyme, that is 6 to 10% of the wild type. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of proteins synthesized under the reduced sigma level reveals either markedly increased or decreased syntheses of several polypeptides, while no detectable effect is observed in the majority of polypeptides. Notably, the synthesis of a set of major heat-shock polypeptides is greatly enhances. Hence, the decrease of RNA polymerase holoenzyme relative to the core enzyme seems to affect the synthesis of individual proteins differentially, primarily at the level of transcription. The expression of the groE operon, one of the major heat-inducible operons in E. coli is also studied in some detail.

Amber mutations in the structural gene for RNA polymerase sigma factor of Escherichia coli

Amber mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 affected in the structural gene (rpoD) for the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase have been obtained from a strain harboring a temperature-sensitive amber suppressor (supF-Ts6) which is active only at low temperatures. These mutants grow normally at low temperature (30 degrees C) but do not grow at high temperature (42 degrees C) due to the inability to synthesize sigma factor. In one mutant studied in detail (rpoD40), the rate of sigma-factor synthesis at 30 degrees C is about half that of the wild type and is decreased to 10%-15% within 1 h of incubation at 42 degrees C. The synthesis of core polymerase subunits or bulk protein is virtually unaffected at least for 2 h. The defect of the mutant in sigma synthesis and growth at high temperature can be suppressed by any of the amber suppressors tested (supD. supE or supF). RNA-polymerase holoenzymes prepared from the mutant cells carrying each of the suppressors (grown at 42 degrees C) exhibit different thermostabilities attributable to alterations in the sigma factor. The reduced sigma synthesis in the mutant is accompanied by the synthesis of polypeptide tentatively identified as 'amber fragment'. These results as well as the genetic mapping data indicate that the amber mutation (rpoD40) resides within the structural gene for the sigma factor and directly affects sigma synthesis upon inactivation of the suppressor at high temperature.

Stringent control and protein synthesis in bacteria

Most bacteria have evolved a number of regulatory mechanisms which allow them to maintain a balanced and rather constant cellular composition in response to nutritional variations. In particular, when the availability of any aminoacyl-tRNA species becomes limiting (namely through amino acid starvation or inactivation of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase), several biochemically distinct physiological processes are significantly modified. This coordinate adjustment of cellular activity is termed the "stringent response". Under such conditions of aminoacyl-tRNA limitation, protein synthesis still proceeds, but various quantitative as well as qualitative changes in polypeptide metabolism can be observed. In this review, after a brief recall of the main characteristics of the stringent response, several aspects concerning protein synthesis in deprived bacteria have been presented. First, the rates of residual protein formation, peptide chain growth and protein degradation, and the molecular weight distribution of proteins newly synthesized have been analyzed. Then, the data relative to the biosynthetic regulation of non-ribosomal and ribosomal proteins have been summarized and compared to the results obtained from in vitro experiments using transcription-translation coupled systems. Finally, the problem of translational fidelity during deprivation has been discussed in connection with the metabolic behavior of polysomal structures which are still maintained in cells. The stringent dependence of cellular activity on aminoacyl-tRNA supply is known to be abolished by single-site mutations which confer to bacteria a phenotype referred to as "relaxed". These mutant strains provide an useful analytical tool in the scope of understanding the stringency phenomenon. Therefore, their proteosynthetic activity under aminoacyl-tRNA deprivation has also been studied here, in comparison to that of normal wild-type strains.

Synthesis and function of ribonucleic acid polymerase and ribosomes in Escherichia coli B/r after a nutritional shift-up

The syntheses of stable ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) and transfer RNA in bacteria depend on the concentration and activity of RNA polymerase and on the fraction of active RNA polymerase synthesizing stable RNA. These parameters were measured in Escherichia coli B/r after a nutritional shift-up from succinate-minimal to glucose-amino acids medium and were found to change in complex patterns during a 1- to 2-h period after the shift-up before reaching a final steady-state level characteristic for the postshift growth medium. The combined effect of these changes was an immediate, one-step increase in the exponential rate of stable RNA synthesis and thus of ribosome synthesis. This suggests that the distribution of transcribing RNA polymerase over ribosomal and nonribosomal genes and the polymerase activity are continuously adjusted during postshift growth to some growth-limiting reaction whose rate increases exponentially. It is proposed that this reaction is the production of amino-acylated transfer RNA and that is exponentially increasing rate results in part from a gradually increasing concentration of aminoacyl transfer RNA synthetases after a shift-up. This idea was tested and is supported by a computer simulation of a nutritional shift-up.

Escherichia coli RNA polymerase binding and initiation of transcription on fragments of lambda rifd 18 DNA containing promoters for lambda genes and for rrnB, tufB, rplC,A, rplJ,L, and rpoB,C genes

Promoters of genes for bacteriophage lambda and for Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA (rrnB), elongation factor Tu (tufB), ribosomal proteins L11 (rplK), L1 (rplA), L10 (rplJ), and L7/L12 (rplL), and RNA polymerase subunits beta (rpoB) and beta' (rpoC) were studied by use of two types of filter binding assays which measured E. coli RNA polymerase binding and initiation of transcription on restriction fragments of lambda rifd 18 DNA. The DNA fragments selectively retained on filters were eluted, concentrated, and analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The binding characteristics of these promotor fragments were qualitatively determined by varying the RNA polymerase, salt, and glycerol concentrations in the polymerase binding assay with HaeIII fragments of lambda rifd 18 DNA. The approximate map locations of these small HaeIII fragments were determined by HaeIII digestion of the larger, previously mapped EcoRI, HindIII, and SmaI restriction fragments of the phage DNA. The base compositions proximal to the 5' ends of mRNA's from promoters on these DNA fragments were elucidated by the polymerase initiation assay, in which the addition of various combinations of nucleoside triphosphates to the reaction allowed RNA polymerase to form high-salt-resistant initiation complexes with some of the known SmaI + EcoRI, EcoRI + HindIII, or HaeIII restriction fragments of lambda rifd 18 DNA. The data obtained by this technique are consistent with the map positions and 5' mRNA base sequences of the known lambda promotors p'R, po, pR and pL. In the main focus of this work, we have determined the approximate map locations and 5' mRNA base compositions of several promoters for known E. coli genes including rrnB, tufB, rplK,A, and rplJ,L. No promoter was detected between rplL and the rpoB,C genes. Thus our data are consistent with the conclusion of Yamamoto and Nomura (1978) that the beta and beta' mRNA is probably cotranscribed from the promoter for rplJ,L. Finally, the approximate map positions and the NTP combinations which initiated transcription of several unknown lambda and E. coli in vitro promoters are reported. The methods reported should prove useful for studying the characteristics of promoters on other cloned DNA regions.

Expression of RNA polymerase and ribosome component genes in Escherichia coli mutants having conditionally defective RNA polymerases

The expression of the genes coding for the beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase, ribosomal RNA, ribosomal proteins, and beta-galactosidase was investigated in strains carrying conditionally lethal mutations affecting either RNA polymerase core assembly or RNA polymerase enzyme activity. The mutant strain XH56 produces a temperature-sensitive beta' subunit and at 42 degrees C is defective in RNA chain initiation; consequently, little or no transcription occurs at the restrictive temperature. A partial restriction, produced by shifting the strain to 39 degrees C, resulted in a rapid fivefold increase in the transcription of the rpoB and C genes and in the synthesis of the beta- and beta'-subunit proteins for which they code. The RNA polymerase assembly-defective strains A2R7 and TS4 exhibited a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in the transcription of the rpoB and C genes and in the synthesis of beta- and beta-subunit proteins after prolonged restriction. These results demonstrate (i) that regulation of the synthesis of the beta- and beta-RNA polymerase subunits is under these conditions primarily transcriptional rather than translational, and (ii) that a stimulation of rpoB and C gene expression results from a restriction on RNA synthesis caused by either RNA polymerase inactivation or inhibition of its assembly. During restriction of the mutant strains, the transcription of the ribosome component genes exhibited patterns which were similar to transcription of the rpoB and C genes, supporting the evidence that genes coding for RNA polymerase are cotranscribed with ribosomal protein genes; transcription of the lacZ gene was observed to decrease concomitant with the stimulation of the rpoB and C genes.

Macromolecular synthesis accompanying the transition from spores to vegetative forms of Streptomyces granaticolor

The rates of RNA, protein and DNA synthesis were estimated in synchronously germinating spores of Streptomyces granaticolor. Rapid uptake of labelled precursors of RNA and proteins was observed after 20 s. The germination process took place through a sequence of time-ordered events. RNA synthesis started after 3 min of germination, protein synthesis began at 4 min and net DNA synthesis at 60-70 min of germination. A characteristic feature of germination was the biphasic pattern in the rate of RNA and protein synthesis. Spores of Streptomyces granaticolor were sensitive to actinomycin D, rifampicin and chloramphenicol even at the start of germination. Protein synthesis during germination was dependent on new mRNA synthesis and was independent during the first 60-70 min on replication of the spore genome.

Escape synthesis of RNA polymerase subunits and termination factor rho following induction of prophage lambda in Escherichia coli

Synthesis of RNA polymerase subunits and of transcription termination factor p was studied after thermoinduction of prophage lambdac1857 located at several unusual sites on the chromosome of Escherichia coli. When a lysogen carrying the prophage at the bfe gene was induced at 42 degrees C, the rate of synthesis of core polymerase subunits (alpha, beta and beta') rapidly decreased, followed by a marked increase after about 10 min. The latter increase was observed specifically in the "bfe lysogen" and not in any of the other lysogens tested. Similarly, the rate of synthesis of p factor increased appreciably in the induced ilv lysogen carrying the prophage at the ilv gene, and possibly in the bfe lysogen as well, but not in other lysogens examined. Taken together with other evidence, these results suggest that the enhanced syntheses of beta and beta' subunits of RNA polymerase and of p factor observerd represent "escape synthesis", resulting from the close linkage of the prophage genome to the respective structural genes. In contrast, omega factor synthesis was stimulated upon induction of any of the lysogens used without respect to the site of prophage location, suggesting the involvement of an entirely different mechanism.

Establishment of exponential growth after a nutritional shift-up in Escherichia coli B/r: accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, and protein

The accumulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein was followed in cultures of Escherichia coli B/r during exponential growth in different media and for 2 h after a nutritional shift-up from succinate minimal medium (growth rate [mu1] = 0.67 doublings per h) to glucose plus amino acids medium (mu2 = 3.14 doublings per h). During postshift growth of the culture, the amounts of RNA (R), DNA (D), and protein (P) increased such that the ratios of the increments (delta R/delta P; delta D/delta P) were constants (k1, k2). This implies that the rates of accumulation of nuclei1:k2:1. These constants change from their preshift value to their final postshift value (i.e., k1 and k2) within a few minutes after the shift. k1 is a function of the activity of ribosomes, whereas k2 is related to the initiation of rounds of DNA replication. These parameters and the observed change in the doubling time of RNA (= mu2/mu1) were used to derive kinetic equations that describe the accumulation of DNA, RNA, protein, and cell mass during the 2- to 3-h transition period after a shift-up. The calculated kinetics agree closely with the observed kinetics.

Altered synthesis and stability of RNA polymerase holoenzyme subunits in mutants of Escherichia coli with mutations in the beta or beta' subunit genes

Bacteria with specific temperature sensitive lethal mutations in the gene for the beta' subunit of RNA polymerase synthesize both the beta and beta' subunits at a several fold higher rate at 42 degrees C than wild-type cells relative to total protein. Synthesis of the alpha and sigma subunits proceeds at essentially the wild-type rates under these conditions. In contrast, a mutant with a temperature sensitive lethal mutation in the beta subunit gene synthesizes beta and beta' at 42 degrees C at slightly lower rates than wild-type, while alpha and sigma synthesis is not significantly altered. In all of the mutants at 42 degrees C, newly synthesized alpha subunits are stable, while the beta, beta' and sigma subunits are rapidly degraded. The apparent uncoupling of betabeta' and alpha subunit synthesis seen in the beta' mutants at 42 degrees C might suggest that the synthesis of these subunits is at least in part controlled by different mechanisms.

Peptide analysis of RNA polymerase alpha subunit from Escherichia coli: comparison of free with assembled form

The analysis of tryptic peptides was performed on the unassembled as well as assembled form f alpha subunit of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. The peptide profiles obtained by Dowex 50 column chromatography of the unassembled alpha subunit prepared from cells, either pulse-labeled or continuously labeled with radioactive lysine or arginine, were essentially identical with those of the alpha subunit from intact RNA polymerase. The results suggest that newly synthesized free alpha subunit is assembled into the polymerase structure without any remarkable modifications. The number of lysine- and arginine-containing peaks were close to the values expected from the amino acid composition of alpha subunit assuming that the two alpha subunits in RNA polymerase core enzyme have identical primary structure.

Effects of rifampicin on synthesis and functional activity of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli

During the course of kinetic studies on the synthesis of RNA polymerase subunits in Escherichia coli K12, strain Km7 (CP372), certain anomalies were found that seemed to be associated with the system of reversible inhibition of RNA and protein synthesis by rifampicin. To find a possible explanation for these anomalies, effects of rifampicin on RNA chain elongation and on residual synthesis of polymerase subunits were investigated with several strains including Km7. Examination of mRNA synthesis for the tryptophan operon suggested that RNA chain growth as well as RNA chain initiation is inhibited at high drug concentration (500 mug/ml), wheras RNA chain initiation is inhibited specifically at low concentration (20 mug/ml). Analysis of effect of rifampicin concentration on total RNA synthesis gave results that are also consistent with this conclusion. These results emphasize the need for selecting a proper drug concentration whenever rifampicin or other related antibiotic is used as a specific inhibitor of transcription initiation. When rifampicin was added to a culture of these strains absolute rates of synthesis of all subunits of RNA polymerase increased for several minutes and then decreased. The extent of this transient stimulation varied depending on the strain, drug concentration and other conditions, but was most striking for the beta and sigma subunits with strain Km7 at high drug concentration (500 mug/ml). With a rifampicin-sensitive wild-type strain tested, the maximum stimulation was found at about 50 mug/ml of the drug, with a particularly marked effect for sigma subunit. Streptolydigin, on the other hand, inhibited the synthesis of core subunits much faster than the bulk of protein, but inhibited synthesis of sigma subunit only after a lag. Hence a specific effect of rifampicin but not the inactivation of beta subunit per se appears to be involved in transient stimulation of polymerase synthesis observed. Implications of these findings on the control of RNA polymerase synthesis are discussed.

Hyperproduction of the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase in a mutant of Escherichia coli

A mutant of Escherichia coli K12 is described in which sigma and alpha subunits of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) are produced at the rates much higher than in the normal strain. The rate of synthesis for sigma subunit was found to be at least 10-times higher, though the rapid degradation of sigma polypeptides accompanied with the accelerated synthesis precludes accurate estimation of the extent of hyperproduction. The alpha subunit synthesis was about 5-times higher in this mutant than in the control, and excess alpha polypeptides produced were as stable as the bulk of protein under the conditions employed. Genetic analyses of the mutant by conjugation and by transduction with phage P1 revealed that at least three distinct but closely linked mutations are responsible for hyperproduction of the sigma subunit; one (sig-1) is located very close to rif, and the others (sig-2 and sig-3) at the argH-bfe and metB regions, respectively. The results further indicate that the accelerated synthesis of alpha subunit is due to a mutation also located at the metB region. The present finding suggests that the synthesis of sigma subunit is subject to a complex control that can be affected by a number of cellular processes. The possible involvement of the core polymerase in determining the rate of synthesis of sigma subunit is discussed.