A rapid method for the purification of RNA polymerase holoenzyme from Escherichia coli

A method is described for the rapid purification of RNA polymerase holoenzyme from small amounts of Escherichia coli cells. Chromatography of a crude extract on a single-stranded DNA agarose column followed by gell filtration chromatography gave 95% pure holoenzyme. The enzyme kinetic characteristics on T7 DNA identical to those of RNA polymerase purified by other more laborious procedures.