Ts-phenotype of the E. coli rho-factor mutant rho 15 is suppressed by two rifampicin-resistance mutations, rhoB1019 resulting in a single amino acid substitution Val146----Phe and rhoB268 resulting in a single substitution Gln513----Leu in beta-subunit of the E. coli RNA polymerase. Rifampicin-resistance mutations rhoB255 (Asp516----Val), rhoB1016 (Asp516----Asn), rhoB1001 (His526----Tyr), rhoB1004 (Ser531----Phe), rhoB1005 (Pro564----Leu), and streptolydigin-resistance' mutation rhoB1018 (double substitution Gly544----Asp and Phe545----Ser) do not suppress the rho15 mutation.