Decreased degradation of beta beta' RNA polymerase subunits and abnormal proteins in a mutant E. coli.

An opr24 mutation decreasing the degradation of RNA polymerase ββ′ subunits was found among the Ts+ revertants of Ts strain carring an rpoC1 mutation which stimulates overproduction of these polypeptides. The opr24 mutation is allele-non-specific, for it decreases the degradation of the mutant β and β′ subunits, the amberfragment of the β subunit and the non-mutant β′ subunit. Moreover, opr24 reduces the proteolysis of abnormal proteins containing canavanine.