Biochemistry
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We have studied elongation of SV40 DNA F1 by E. coli RNA polymerase looking specifically at the length of the transcript as a function of time. By running the transcription reactions at 18 degrees C with limited enzyme and adding heparin or rifampicin after elongation has started, we have achieved almost exclusive initiation from the SV40 DNA preferred promotor size [Zain, B. S., Weissmann, S. ⋯ In the type of experiments performed here, those pause sites had continuation relaxation times greater than 45 s at 37 degrees C. This implies that regardless of the nature of a pause, p will cause at least some termination at all hesitation sites with a relaxation time greater than 45 s. All the results are discussed in terms of a kinetic model for the termination of elongation.