Transcription level of operon fts YEX and activity of promoter P1 of rpoH during the cell cycle in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the genes of the main heat-shock proteins are under th e control of the product of gene rpoH, protein sigma(32). The distal promot er P1 of rpoH is located within the terminator of the division operon ftsYE X which could imply some coupling between ftsYEX transcription termination, P1 transcription and cell division. To study the possibility of this coupl ing, the level of transcription of ftsYEX and the activity of promoter P1 o f rpoH were examined in synchronous cultures. Results indicate that transcr iption of ftsYEX and of rpoH from P1 is continuous, suggesting that ftsYEX transcription termination and P1 activity are not coupled to the cell cycle .