Regulation of transcription termination in Escherichia coli

Abstract

Experiments are summarized that deal with the mechanisms of action of the N gene transcriptional antitermination protein of bacteriophage lambda and the nusA gene transcriptional termination protein of Escherichia coli. Models are presented for the regulation of chain elongation during bacterial transcription. Current evidence suggests that chain elongation during transcription may be regulated by a "regulosome" that consists of RNA and protein and is bound to transcribing RNA polymerase.