title: The phage lambda Q gene product: activity of a transcription antiterminator in vitro.
abstract: Phage lambda gene Q encodes a positive regulator of phage late gene expression. We show that purified Q gene protein functions as a transcription antiterminator in vitro. It acts at the terminator for lambda 6S RNA, a small constitutive transcript that precedes the late genes, thus opening transcription into the entire late gene region. It is active in a purified transcription system consisting otherwise of only RNA polymerase, L factor and DNA containing the region encoding the 6S RNA. Q protein thus acts directly on the transcription complex to alter its response to transcription terminators.
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins