Temperature-sensitive RNA polymerase mutants with altered subunit synthesis and degradation.

A temperature-sensitive mutant having a lethal mutation in the gene for the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) exhibits an apparent 2- to 3-fold decrease in the rates of both beta and beta' subunit synthesis at the non-permissive temperature, relative to total protein. In contrast, a temperature-sensitive mutant with a lethal mutation in the gene encoding beta' has a 5- to 6-fold increase in the rates of beta and beta' synthesis at 42 degrees. These beta and beta' mutants also exhibit rapid degradation of both subunits at the high temperature.