Fine tuning of the E. coli NusB:NusE complex affinity to BoxA RNA is required for processive antitermination.

ABSTRACT: Phage lambda propagation in Escherichia coli host cells requires transcription antitermination on the lambda chromosome mediated by lambdaN protein and four host Nus factors, NusA, B, E (ribosomal S10) and G. Interaction of E. coli NusB:NusE heterodimer with the single stranded BoxA motif of lambdanutL or lambdanutR RNA is crucial for this reaction. Similarly, binding of NusB:NusE to a BoxA motif is essential to suppress transcription termination in the ribosomal RNA (rrn) operons. We used fluorescence anisotropy to measure the binding properties of NusB and of NusB:NusE heterodimer to BoxA-containing RNAs differing in length and sequence. Our results demonstrate that BoxA is necessary and sufficient for binding. We also studied the gain-of-function D118N NusB mutant that allows lambda gro

SUBMITTER: Burmann BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2800207 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature