TRANSCRIPT CLEAVAGE FACTORS FROM ESCHERICHIA-COLI

Two transcription elongation factors (GreA and GreB) related in primary sequence were isolated from E. coli. Each factor induced cleavage of the nascent transcript in artificially halted elongation complexes followed by the loss of the 3' proximal fragment and resumption of elongation from the new 3' terminus. GreA induced cleavages 2 or 3 nt behind the terminus while GreB released longer oligonucleotides up to 9 nt in length. The pattern of cleavages characteristically changed as the transcription complex advanced, supporting the ''inchworm'' model of RNA polymerase propagation. In addition to attacking artificially halted complexes, both factors antagonized the action of natural elongation-arresting sites that occasionally trap the advancing complex. GreB rescued the arrested complexes via the transcript cleavage and restart pathway while GreA acted by an unknown mechanism, preventing the arrest only if added before the polymerase reached the arresting site.