Non-coordinate expression of the neighbouring genes rplL and rpoB, C of Escherichia coli

Abstract

The operon rpoB,C of Escherichia coli codes for the RNA polymerase subunits β and β′. rpoB precedes rpoC in the direction of transcription. The nearest characterised gene to rpoB on the chromosome is rplL, which codes for the ribosomal proteins L7/12. rplL appears to be transcribed in the same direction as rpoB,C, and it has been suggested that all three genes may lie in a single operon. The drug rifampicin induces increased production of β and β′ in suitable strains of E. coli. We show here that α and σ are also induced, whereas synthesis of L7/12 is not detectably affected.