Final answer:
The question addresses rho-dependent termination, involving the rho protein causing transcription to end in prokaryotes, in contrast with rho-independent termination, which does not require the rho protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transcription Termination in Prokaryotes
The question refers to the rho-dependent and rho-independent termination mechanisms in prokaryotes. In rho-dependent termination, the process is facilitated by the rho protein, which is an ATP-dependent helicase. This protein tracks the mRNA and interacts with RNA polymerase at a run of G nucleotides on the DNA template, causing the polymerase to stall and release the mRNA. Conversely, rho-independent termination involves the formation of a hairpin loop in the mRNA, which is rich in C-G nucleotides, that induces stalling of the polymerase without the need for the rho protein.