New RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T7.

Abstract

A new T7-specific RNA polymerase is found in T7 phage-infected cells. It is the product of T7 gene I and is physically and biochemically distinct from the host cell RNA polymerase. The synthesis of T7 RNA polymerase provides a direct explanation for the pleiotropic control of late T7 functions exerted by gene I.