Inhibition of protein synthesis transiently stimulates initiation of minichromosome replication in Escherichia coli.
Replication of oriC-dependent minichromosomes was found to be transiently stimulated when protein synthesis was inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol. Initiation of replication was also induced by amino acid starvation of relA mutant strains and a nutritional upshift. The results are explained on the basis that these treatments rendered RNA polymerase more available for participation in the initiation process. As a consequence, the oriC duplex may be transcriptionally activated to an open form, a necessary prerequisite for DNA polymerization.
Weinberger
M
M
Department of Experimental Biology, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
Helmstetter
C E
CE
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014633:Valine / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D003470:Culture Media; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; C017721:casamino acids; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D014633:Valine