Open AccessInhibition of protein synthesis transiently stimulates initiation of minichromosome replication in Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Martin Weinberger,
Charles E. Helmstetter
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.171.7.3591-3596.1989
Subject(s) - biology , minichromosome , minichromosome maintenance , dna replication , mutant , protein biosynthesis , chloramphenicol , dna synthesis , origin of replication , replication factor c , polymerase , microbiology and biotechnology , origin recognition complex , dna , control of chromosome duplication , biochemistry , genetics , eukaryotic dna replication , gene , bacteria , chromatin
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.