In an ompF'-'lacZ fusion system carried by the open reading frame vector pORF1 in a supE mutant of Escherichia coli K12, read-through of an amber codon was decreased at temperatures higher than 40 degrees C. This effect of temperature was dependent on the nucleotide sequence surrounding the amber codon, which was inserted into a site between the ompF and lacZ cistrons. Upon a temperature shift-up from 30 to 42 degrees C, beta-galactosidase synthesis directed by this fusion showed a transient arrest.