The gene specifying RNase E (rne) and a gene affecting mRNA stability (ams) are the same gene

Summary A DNA clone complementing the rne‐3071 mutation has been expressed and localized in the physical map of Escherichia coli. The DNA fragment from this clone was localized to the region of the E. coli chromosome where the me‐3071 mutation has been mapped. The position of this DNA fragment in the E. coli chromosome, the size of the product directed by this DNA fragment (110000 Da), the restriction map of this fragment, the fact that the same clone complements the ams mutation, and the observation that the rne‐3071 and the ams mutations cause similar patterns of RNA synthesis, show that the me gene — a gene specifying the processing endonuclease RNase E — and the ams gene — a gene that affects mRNA stability — are identical.