Nus transcription elongation factors and RNase III modulate small ribosome subunit biogenesis in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli NusA and NusB proteins bind specific sites, such as those in the leader and spacer sequences that flank the 16S region of the ribosomal RNA transcript, forming a complex with RNA polymerase that suppresses Rho-dependent transcription termination. Although antitermination has long been the accepted role for Nus factors in rRNA synthesis, we propose that another major role for the Nus-modified transcription complex in rrn operons is as an RNA chaperone insuring co-ordination of 16S rRNA folding and RNase III processing that results in production of proper 30S ribosome subunits. This contrarian proposal is based on our studies of nusA and nusB cold-sensitive mutations that have altered translation and at low temperature accumulate 30S subunit precursors. Both phenotypes are s

SUBMITTER: Bubunenko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3545037 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature