Mechanism of Action of Bacterial Transcription Terminator Rho

Transcription terminator Rho

  • Ranjan Sen CDFD, Inner Ring Road, Uppal
  • Passong Immanuel R Chhakchhuak, M.Sc. CDFD, Hyderabad
  • Ajay Khatri, M.Sc. CDFD, Hyderabad
Keywords: Bacterial transcription, Rho, NusG, NusA, transcription termination

Abstract

The bacterial transcription terminator, Rho, is a well conservedprotein among the prokaryotes. It has been discovered about 50 years back and still a significant number of the researchers across the globe are actively engaged in understanding the function of this protein.  Rho is a hexameric RNA-dependent helicase that dislodges transcribing RNA polymerase. Its binding site on the RNA is quite degenerated, and thereby many mRNAs are its target, which leads to regulation of a wide range of operons by the Rho-dependent termination.  This genome-wide control by Rho brings in pleotropic effects in the cell physiology, and hence many biological processes are directly affectedif this termination process is perturbed. In this review, we will cover various mechanistic aspects of the Rho-dependent transcription termination highlighting the significant contributions made by us over the last 12 years.  The review includes the biochemistry and the structural analyses of the Rho, its mechanism of action and its regulation by other cellular factors.

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Published
2019-04-04
Section
Review Articles