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

The operon rpoB,C of Escherichia coli codes for the RNA polymerase subunits beta and beta'. rpoB procedes 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 beta and beta' in suitable strains of E. coli. We show here that alpha and sigma are also induced, whereas synthesis of L7/12 is not detectably affected.