Effects of Overexpression of C5 Protein on rnpB Gene Expression in Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli RNase P is composed of a large RNA subunit (M1 RNA) and a small protein subunit (C5 protein). Since both subunits are assembled in a 1:1 ratio, expression of M1 RNA and C5 protein should be coordinately regulated for RNase P to be efficiently synthesized in the cell. However, it is not known yet how the coordination occurs. In this study, we investigated how overexpression of C5 protein affects expression of the rnpB gene encoding M1 RNA, using a lysogenic strain, which carries an rnpB-lacZ transcription fusion. Primer extension analysis of rnpB-lacZ fusion transcripts showed that the overexpression of C5 protein increased the amount of the fusion transcripts, suggesting that rnpB expression increases with the increase of intracellular level of C5 protein.