Final answer:
Rho-factor dependent transcription termination in E. coli is a process where the rho protein binds to the nascent RNA strand, causing the termination of transcription. This occurs when the RNA polymerase nears the 3' end of the nascent transcript and encounters a region rich in C-G nucleotides, forming a hairpin loop that stalls the polymerase.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rho-dependent transcription termination in E. coli is a process in which the rho protein, an ATP-dependent helicase, binds to the nascent RNA strand as the RNA polymerase nears the 3' end of the nascent transcript. This binding causes the rho protein to break the hydrogen bonds between the RNA and the template DNA, thereby preventing further transcription.
One example of rho-dependent termination in prokaryotes is when the RNA polymerase encounters a region rich in C-G nucleotides, leading to the formation of a hairpin loop in the mRNA. This hairpin loop stalls the polymerase and allows the rho protein to bind and terminate transcription.