Loss of 4.5S RNA induces the heat shock response and lambda prophage in Escherichia coli.

During depletion of 4.5S RNA, cells of Escherichia coli displayed a heat shock response that was simultaneous with the first detectable effect on ribosome function and before major effects on cell growth. Either 4.

Initiation of translation is impaired in E. coli cells deficient in 4.5S RNA.

The 4.5S RNA of Escherichia coli is a small, stable RNA that is essential for cell growth but its function is not yet known. Its biosynthesis is stringently controlled, and it is processed by RNase P, a transfer RNA processing enzyme.

Physical properties of the E. coli 4.5S RNA: first results suggest a hairpin helix of unusual thermal stability.

Hyperchromicity measurements and quasi-elastic laser light scattering (QELS) have been used to assess the solution structure of the metabolically stable E. coli 4.5S RNA.