Rho factor
Rho Factor
Rho factor (/roʊ/; from the Greek letter ρ) is a protein involved in the termination of transcription in prokaryotes. It is an essential component in the life cycle of certain bacteria, including Escherichia coli.
Etymology
The term "Rho factor" is derived from the Greek letter ρ (rho), following the convention of naming factors involved in RNA transcription after Greek letters. The name does not have any specific biological significance.
Function
Rho factor is a RNA-DNA helicase that binds to the RNA at the Rho utilization site (rut) and moves along the RNA towards the RNA polymerase. When it reaches the polymerase, it causes it to dissociate from the DNA, thus terminating transcription.
Related Terms
- Transcription: The process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA).
- RNA polymerase: An enzyme that is responsible for copying a DNA sequence into an RNA sequence, during the process of transcription.
- Rho utilization site: A specific sequence on the RNA where the Rho factor binds to initiate the termination of transcription.
- RNA-DNA helicase: An enzyme that separates double-stranded RNA-DNA into single strands, allowing transcription to occur.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rho factor
- Wikipedia's article - Rho factor
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