RNA polymerase and the ribosome: the close relationship

► In bacteria, the rate of transcription elongation is controlled by the rate of translation. ► Ribosome coupling prevents RNAP backtracking. ► Ribosome coupling prevents DNA damage caused by codirectional collisions between backtracked RNAP and the replisome. ► The NusE:NusG complex links RNAP to the 30S subunit of the ribosome. ► RfaH adopts a NusG-like fold when it binds to RNAP and can then bind the ribosome through interactions with NusE.