The nus mutations affect transcription termination in Escherichia coli

Abstract

The nusA1 and nusB5 mutations result in a partial suppression of polarity and thus transcription termination in Escherichia coli. As these mutations block the transcription antitermination activity of bacteriophage λN gene product, they paradoxically seem to enhance transcription termination atphage termination sites. The rho mutation HDF026 displays almost identical properties. These observations suggest that the nusA and nusB gene products may act as termination factors analgous to rho protein.