Rifampin susceptibility of ribonucleic acid synthesis in a fragile Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis in the sorbitol-dependent, fragile yeast mutant VY1160 (Venkov et al., 1974) is rapidly inhibited by rifampin. The growth of the mutant cells and protein synthesis are more slowly affected by the antibiotic, apparently as secondary phenomena. Lower doses of rifampin (50 to 100 mug/ml) preferentially inhibit ribosomal RNA synthesis in comparison to that of messenger RNA and transfer RNA. Transcription and translation of messenger RNA continues in the presence of low doses of rifampin, as evidenced by the unimpaired induction of alpha-glucosidase. Partially purified RNA polymerase II from this mutant, in contrast to that from the parental strain, is strongly inhibited by low concentrations (1 mug/ml) of rifampin, whereas RNA polymerase I from the two strains is similar in behavior. The mutant may be useful for the study of regulatory mechanisms of transcription in eukaryotes.