Rho-dependent transcription termination in bacteria recycles RNA polymerases stalled at DNA lesions

In bacteria, transcription-coupled repair of DNA lesions initiates after the Mfd protein removes RNA polymerases (RNAPs) stalled at the lesions. The bacterial RNA helicase, Rho, is a transcription termination protein that dislodges the elongation complexes. Here, we show that Rho dislodges the stall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Nature communications 2019-03, Vol.10 (1), p.1207-12, Article 1207
Main Authors:	Jain, Sriyans, Gupta, Richa, Sen, Ranjan
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Bacteria Bacterial Proteins - genetics Bacterial Proteins - metabolism Cell survival Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA DNA damage DNA Damage - drug effects DNA Damage - radiation effects DNA helicase DNA repair DNA Repair - physiology DNA, Bacterial - metabolism DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - metabolism Elongation Escherichia coli - physiology Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics Escherichia coli Proteins - metabolism Lesions Mfd protein Mitomycin - pharmacology Mutation Peptide Elongation Factors - genetics Peptide Elongation Factors - metabolism Proteins Repair Ribonucleic acid RNA RNA helicase RNA, Bacterial - biosynthesis Transcription Factors - genetics Transcription Factors - metabolism Transcription termination Transcription Termination, Genetic - physiology Transcription-coupled repair Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects
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Summary:	In bacteria, transcription-coupled repair of DNA lesions initiates after the Mfd protein removes RNA polymerases (RNAPs) stalled at the lesions. The bacterial RNA helicase, Rho, is a transcription termination protein that dislodges the elongation complexes. Here, we show that Rho dislodges the stalled RNAPs at DNA lesions. Strains defective in both Rho and Mfd are susceptible to DNA-damaging agents and are inefficient in repairing or propagating UV-damaged DNA. In vitro transcription assays show that Rho dissociates the stalled elongation complexes at the DNA lesions. We conclude that Rho-dependent termination recycles stalled RNAPs, which might facilitate DNA repair and other DNA-dependent processes essential for bacterial cell survival. We surmise that Rho might compete with, or augment, the Mfd function.
ISSN:	2041-1723 2041-1723