NPROTEIN

N-protein: translation

(1) Anti-terminator protein of the lambda bacteriophage and other phages that plays a key role in the early stages of infection. During the early phase, only two genes N and cro are transcribed, by transcription of the DNA in opposite directions. N-protein binds to sites on the DNA ( nut sites for N-utilisation), prevents rho -dependent termination and allows transcription of the genes.

(2) Name was once used for GTP-binding proteins(G-proteins) ; now obsolete and should be avoided because of confusion with N-protein of bacteriophages.