1887

Abstract

Summary: Expression of the mercury-resistance () genes of the transposon Tn is positively and negatively controlled by the product of the gene. DNA sequence analysis has identified three open reading frames as potential candidates for this gene, one of which is oriented divergently with respect to the mercury-resistance genes. We have demonstrated that although RNA polymerase will bind to fragments containing the potential control regions for all three reading frames, only the control region for this divergent reading frame shows detectable promoter activity Transcription of this reading frame is required for repression and induction of transcription. We have also shown that the Tn gene product negatively regulates its own synthesis, and have identified the start point of the transcript for this reading frame and for the mercury-inducible transcript of the mercury-resistance genes.

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1986-02-01
2024-12-12
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