Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The <jats:italic>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</jats:italic> RNA polymerase II subunit gene <jats:italic>RPB7</jats:italic> was isolated and sequenced. <jats:italic>RPB7</jats:italic> is a single copy gene whose sequence predicts a 19,000 Dalton protein of 171 amino acids. RPB7 is known to dissociate from RNA polymerase II as an RPB4/RPB7 subcomplex <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>. RPB7 also appears to interact with RNA polymerase II in a manner dependent upon RPB4, since RNA polymerase II purified from cells lacking RPB4 also lacks RPB7. Previous results have demonstrated that deletion of the <jats:italic>RPB4</jats:italic> results in slow growth and cold‐ and temperature‐sensitivity. In contrast, deletion of the <jats:italic>RPB7</jats:italic> gene revealed that it is essential for cell growth and viability. Loss of both the <jats:italic>RPB4</jats:italic> and the <jats:italic>RPB7</jats:italic> genes causes lethality. These results suggest that RPB7 contributes to the function of RNA polymerase II in the absence of RPB4 either in a manner independent of its association with the enzyme or by directly binding to the enzyme in a manner independent of its association with RPB4.</jats:p>