Involvement of the nusB gene products in transcription of Escherichia coli tryptophan operon in vitro.

Synthesis of trp mRNA in vitro directed by plasmid DNA carrying the entire trp operon was studied using crude protein extracts (S-100) from Escherichia coli strains carrying the nusA or nusB mutation or both. It was found that the levels of trp mRNA transcribed from the promoter-distal genes (trpCBA) relative to that from the promoter-proximal genes (trpED) was markedly lower with extracts from the nus- mutants than that from the nus+ strain. Kinetic experiments suggest that termination of RNA transcripts at intragenic transcriptional barriers is prevented by the nus gene products from allowing efficient expression of the operon.