Analysis of nutR, a site required for transcription antitermination in phage lambda.

Deletions extending from the cro gene into boxA and nutR of the Rho-dependent tR1 terminator of bacteriophage lambda have been generated and cloned between promoters and the galK gene of Escherichia coli on a multicopy plasmid. Terminators placed between the promoters and galK restrict transcription and expression of galK on these plasmids. However, when lambda N protein is provided, and if a functional N interaction site, nutR, is intact, transcription antitermination occurs and galK expression increases. Deletions into the nutR region affect the ability to antiterminate. From the results obtained we conclude that: boxA, a site believed to bind host factors (Nus), is not required for transcription antitermination in this system; the host NusA function is required even in the absence of boxA; nutR is required for N antitermination; translation across the nutR sequence prevents N-dependent antitermination.