Contranscription of genes for RNA polymerase subunits beta and beta' with genes for ribosomal proteins in Escherichia coli.

The lambdarifd18 transducing phage carries genes for RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase; EC 2.7.7.6) subunits beta and beta' (rpoB,C) and genes for four ribosomal proteins (rplK for L11, rplA for LI, rplJ for L10, and rplL for L7/L12). DNA segments of various sizes, which cover the rifd allele of the rpoB gene, were cloned into lambda vector phages. The hybrid phages were then analyzed for their ability to express the rpoB gene and neighboring ribosomal protein genes in ultraviolet-irradiated lambda-lysogenic and nonlysogenic bacterial hosts. The results show that the rpoB gene is cotranscribed with two neighboring ribosomal protein genes and that in the rpoB,C transcription unit is: promoter, rp1J, rp1L, rpoB, and rpoC.