Binding of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase to a specific site located near the 3'-end of the avaian sarcoma virus genome.

We have isolated a unique 35 base pair region of avian tumor virus DNA that binds specifically to Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme. Studies with various size classes of viral DNA coupled with restriction enzyme mapping data indicate that the binding site is located in the large terminal repeat of the viral genome and is within the first 50 nucleotides of the heteropolymeric region corresponding to the 3'-end of the virion RNA.