A novel adenosine triphosphatase isolated from RNA polymerase preparations of Escherichia coli. I. Copurification and separation.

Adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) [EC 3.6.1,3] activity has been found to exist in most preparations of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase [EC 2.7.7.6] obtained from Escherichia coli by a number of purification procedures so far established. Electrophoretic analysis on polyacrylamide gels demonstrated that ATP hydrolysis and RNA synthesis were catalyzed by two distinct enzyme proteins. It appears that the two enzymes are associated or have similar molecular properties. Separation of the two enzymes, the object of the present work, was achieved by three independent methods: ion exchange chromatography on a phosphocellulose column, electrophoresis in glycerol gradients, or high-salt glycerol gradient centrifugation.