In vitro characterization of 6S RNA release-defective mutants uncovers features of pRNA-dependent release from RNA polymerase in E. coli

Major proposed steps of Escherichia coli 6S RNA release. Highly conserved areas in the 6S RNA are shown in purple; the template strand is in light brown and nontemplate RNA in dark brown. A product RNA (pRNA) is shown in dark blue and triggers the formation of a release hairpin formed from the conserved “-10” region and the top strand of the downstream helix. Based on the scrunching-dependent release model for 6S RNA (Panchapakesan and Unrau 2012).