In vivo evidence for nusA and nusB gene function in general transcription of the Escherichia coli genome.

The requirements for nusA and nusB gene products for the effective transcription of E. coli genes, including the trp operon, were demonstrated by analysis of RNA transcripts produced in nusA, nusB and nusAnusB mutants. In the nusA1 mutant, the levels of overall synthesis of both bulk RNA and trp mRNA were reduced more at 37 C than at 30 C, consistent with the idea of temperature-sensitive nus protein function (Friedman et al., 1973). In the nusB27 and nusA1nusB27 mutants (Friedman et al., 1976), decrease in the overall rates of these RNA synthesis was notable even at 30 C. In nus mutants harboring trp delta LD1412, in which the trp operon attenuator site is deleted, the reduction in the trp mRNA level was less severe. Thus, the effect of nus mutations seems to result in part from more frequent transcription termination at the attenuator site. Also in nusA1nusB27 mutants, in which the distal portion of the trp operon is deleted, the trp mRNA level was not reduced much. Thus, transcription in the nus- mutants seems to be frequently and prematurely arrested at sites along the trp operon.