title: Termination and antitermination: RNA polymerase runs a stop sign.
abstract: Termination signals induce rapid and irreversible dissociation of the nascent transcript from RNA polymerase. Terminators at the end of genes prevent unintended transcription into the downstream genes, whereas terminators in the upstream regulatory leader regions adjust expression of the structural genes in response to metabolic and environmental signals. Premature termination within an operon leads to potentially deleterious defects in the expression of the downstream genes, but also provides an important surveillance mechanism. This Review discusses the actions of bacterial and phage antiterminators that allow RNA polymerase to override a terminator when the circumstances demand it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and The RNA Group, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Artsimovitch
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D013728:Terminator Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C064872:antiterminator proteins, Bacteria; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases