Showing papers on "Lambda phage published in 1978"

Nucleotide sequence of cro, cII and part of the O gene in phage lambda DNA.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence comprising 960 base pairs of bacteriophage λDNA has been determined. The sequence includes the entire genes of the regulatory proteins cro and cII, and part of the O gene, together with control elements for their transcription and translation. The right-hand boundaries of the λimm434 and λimm21 substitutions and the cy42 mutation have been located.

Genetic analysis of two genes, dnaJ and dnaK , necessary for Escherichia coli and bacteriophage lambda DNA replication

Abstract: We show that a collection of 93 E. coli mutations which map between thr and leu and which block phage lambda DNA replication define two closely linked cistrons. Work published in the accompanying paper shows that these mutations also affect host DNA replication, so we designate them dnaJ and dnaK; the gene order is thr--dnaK--dnaJ--leu. Demonstration of two cistrons was possible with the isolation of lambda transducing phages carrying one or the other or both of the dna genes. These phages were employed in phage vs bacterial complementation studies which unambiguously show that dnaK and dnaJ are different cistrons.

Identification of a host protein necessary for bacteriophage morphogenesis (the groE gene product)

Abstract: Mutations in the groE gene of Escherichia coli, which block the correct assembly of the phage lambda head, have been previously described. Many groE mutations exert pleiotropic effects, such as inability to propagate phages T4 and T5 and inability to form colonies at 43 degrees. With the help of the EcoRI and HindIII restrictionenzymes and the appropriate phage vectors, we have constructed two lambda transducing phages, called W3 and H18, that carry the groE+ bacterial gene. Upon lysogenization by phage H18 the groE bacterial mutants recover their gro+ phenotype for both phage growth and the ability to form colonies at 43 degrees. We have identified the groE+ bacterial gene product as a protein of 65,000 molecular weight. Mutants of the W3 transducing phage that were selected on the basis of their ability to propagate on some groE mutant hosts induce the synthesis of a groE protein with altered electrophoretic mobility.

E. coli K-12 pel mutants, which block phage lambda DNA injection, coincide with ptsM, which determines a component of a sugar transport system.

Abstract: Escherichia coli pel - mutants inhibit the penetration of bacteriophage lambda DNA into the cell. Using P1 mediated cotransduction, we mapped pel - mutations between markers fadD and eda in the interval of minute 40 of the revised E. coli K-12 map. This places pel in the same region as genes kdgR and ptsM. Mutations in kdgR usually do not alter the Pel phenotype, and vice versa. In contrast, about 30% of ptsM - mutants are also pel -, and all pel - mutants isolated are ptsM -. These results suggest that pel and ptsM are one and the same gene. This interpretation would identify the bacterial product required for injection of phage λ DNA as a component of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system specific for mannose, glucosamine, glucose and fructose. However, the experimental results do not exclude an alternative explanation: that pel and ptsM identify two closely linked genes which would be simulataneously affected at high frequency by a particular mutational event.

Identification of a single promoter in E. coli for rplJ, rplL and rpoBC.

Abstract: A set of restriction fragments cloned into phage lambda vectors has allowed us to locate a site necessary for full rpoBC expression. We find that these genes for the two large subunits of RNA polymerase and the genes, rplL and rplJ, for two ribosomal proteins, form a single operon.

Antagonists of DNA gyrase inhibit repair and recombination of UV-irradiated phage lambda.

Abstract: Intracellular lambda DNA (from EDTA-sensitive tandem duplication phages) was extracted from infected rec+ bacteria and scored for infectivity and recombination (loss of duplication) by transfection of recA recB spheroplasts and subsequent assay for EDTA resistance. When phage development was blocked by repressor or by antibiotics (chloramphenicol and/or rifampin), the apparent recombination frequency was about 0.1% above the background value for recA infections. Prior irradiation of the phage greatly stimulated recombination; the frequency was 20% when UV fluence was 140 J/m2. Repair (recovery of infectivity) and recombination of irradiated phage DNA proceeded readily in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin. Inhibitors of DNA gyrase (coumermycin and oxolinic acid) blocked repair and reduced recombination. UV-stimulated recombination was very low in recA but nearly normal in recB cells: repair was reduced in both mutant strains. The recombination remained high as phage/cell ratios less than unity.

Regulation of glutamine synthetase formation in Escherichia coli: characterization of mutants lacking the uridylyltransferase.

Abstract: A lambda phage (lambdaNK55) carrying the translocatable element Tn10, conferring tetracycline resistance (Tetr), has been utilized to isolate glutamine auxotrophs of Escherichia coli K-12. Such strains lack uridylyltransferase as a result of an insertion of the TN10 element in the glnD gene. The glnD::Tn10 insertion has been mapped at min 4 on the E. coli chromosome and 98% contransducible by phage P1 with dapD. A lambda transducing phage carrying the glnD gene has been identified. A glnD::Tn10 strain synthesizes highly adenylylated glutamine synthetase under all conditions of growth and fails to accumulate high levels of glutamine synthetase in response to nitrogen limitation. However, this strain, under nitrogen-limiting conditions, allows synthesis of 10 to 20 milliunits of biosynthetically active glutamine synthetase per mg of protein, which is sufficient to allow slow growth in the absence of glutamine. The GlnD phenotype in E. coli can be suppressed by the presence of mutations which increase the quantity of biosynthetically active glutamine synthetase.

Characterization and classification of virus particles associated with hepatitis A. II. Type and configuration of nucleic acid.

Abstract: Virus particles banding at 1.34 g/ml in CsCl and sedimenting at 160S in sucrose gradients were isolated from fecal specimens of patients suffering from hepatitis. In the presence of 4 M urea and about 90% formamide, these particles released linear nucleic acid molecules of the kinked appearance characteristic of single-stranded RNA or single-stranded DNA. They could be distinguished from the nucleic acid of phage lambda added to the preparation as a marker for double-stranded configuration. Experiments in which the virus particles under investigation were incubated at pH 12.9 at 50 degrees C for 30 min revealed that their nucleic acid molecules were hydrolyzed as readily as the RNA genome of poliovirus type 2 analyzed in parallel. Both the single-stranded DNA of phage phiX174 and that of parvovirus LuIII, however, proved unaffected by this treatment, and the double-stranded DNA of phage lambda was denatured to single-stranded molecules. It was concluded, therefore, that the virus of human hepatitis A contains a linear genome of single-stranded RNA and has to be classified with the picornaviruses.

On the Role of recA Gene Product in Genetic Recombination: An Analysis by in vitro Packaging of Recombinant DNA Molecules Formed in the Absence of Protein Synthesis

Abstract: The role of the recA gene product of Escherichia coli in genetic recombination was examined in a system where recombination takes place in the absence of protein synthesis. recA200 bacteria were infected with two mutant strains of phage lambda in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin, and the resulting recombinant DNA molecules were measured by in vitro packaging. When recA200 bacteria grown at a temperature that is permissive for RecA phenotype were transferred to a temperature that is restrictive for RecAa phenotype in the presence of the inhibitors, recombination of the infecting phages was severely blocked. This result shows that the recombination activity of the recA200 cells is inactivated by the change of temperature even in the absence of protein synthesis. The most likely explanation of this result is that the recA protein is directly involved in the recombination detected in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin.

Protein Ia and the lamB protein can replace each other in the constitution of an active receptor for the same coliphage

Abstract: Protein Ia and the lamB protein are both located in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli K-12. The lamB protein is known to be the receptor for phage lambda. Datta et al. [Datta, D. B., Arden, B. & Henning, U. (1977) J. Bacteriol. 131, 821--829] recently isolated a phage called TuIa that uses protein Ia for its adsorption. While phage TuIa fails to grow on ompB mutants, which lack protein Ia, we show here that host-range mutants of TuIa can be isolated that do grow on ompB strains. These host-range mutants fail to grow on ompB lamB double mutants, but retain the ability of the parental phage to grow on ompB+ lamB strains. They are therefore apparently able to use either protein Ia or the lamB protein for their adsorption. Genetic evidence suggests that essentially the same site on the lamB protein may be interacting with phage lambda or the host-range mutants of phage TuIa.

Enzymatic breakage of the cohesive end site of phage lambda DNA: terminase (ter) reaction.

Abstract: An in vitro system is described for measuring the endonucleolytic conversion of the phage lambda cohesive end sites in concatemeric DNA to the cohesive chromosomal ends of the mature molecule. This enzymic process, known as the ter reaction, is catalyzed by purified lambda A gene protein. The reaction is markedly stimulated by ATP, Mg2+, spermidine, and one or more uncharacterized factors present in extracts of uninfected Escherichia coli cells. In vitro, the ter reaction proceeds in the absence of proheads under conditions that are similar to those previously found necessary for the formation of a DNA-A gene protein intermediate for the initiation of packaging.

Lambda phage promoter used to enhance expression of a plasmid-cloned gene.

Abstract: A 50-fold (or greater) increase in the production of phage 21 repressor was obtained by construction of a plasmid in which the 21cl (repressor) gene could be transcribed from λPL. The enhancement due to increased 21cI gene copy number and transcription from λPL were at least five-fold and ten-fold, respectively. The plasmid was constructed in vitro by recombination of EcoRI-generated DNA fragments. The use of the DNA fragment containing λPL in obtaining expression of cloned genes is discussed.

A transducing lambda phage carrying grpE, a bacterial gene necessary for lambda DNA replication, and two ribosomal protein genes, rpsP (S16) and rplS (L19).

Abstract: A grpE mutation of Escherichia coli K12, which blocks DNA replication of the phage lambda (Saito and Uchida, 1977), was mapped at 56 min on the standard genetic map. A transducing lambda phage, lambdagrpE22, carrying the wild type allele of the grpE gene was constructed in vitro. Structures of lambdagrpE22 and its viable deletion derivatives were determined by electron microscopic analyses of appropriate heteroduplexes. Proteins coded by the bacterial DNA incorporated into the transducing phages were detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the product of the grpE gene is a weakly acidic protein of molecular weight 24,000. Structural genes for two ribosomal proteins, rplS (L19) and rpsP (S16) were also shown to be carried by lambdagrpE22.

W-reactivation and W-mutagenesis of gamma-irradiated phage lambda.

Abstract: UV irradiation of Escherichia coli wild-type cells manifested the phenomena of W-reactivation (WR) and W-mutagenesis (WM) of phage lambda irradiated by 60Co gamma-rays in broth. WR of gamma-irradiated phage was half as efficient as that of UV-irradiated phage, although the frequency of c mutations in conditions of WR was about the same in both phages. The xthA and recBrecC sbcB mutants were practically identical with wild-type cells in respect of WR and WM of UV- and gamma-irradiated phage. As in UV-irradiated phage, WR and WM of gamma-irradiated phage were absolutely dependent on the recA+ and lexA+ genes of the host cell. WR and WM required much smaller doses of UV radiation for induction in polA1 and uvrB mutants. The lig-ts mutant, temperature sensitive in polynucleotide ligase, was deficient in WR and WM of UV- and gamma-irradiated phage at the semi-permissive temperature of 37 degrees. The uvrE502 mutant and the allelic recL152 strain were absolutely deficient in WR and WM of gamma-irradiated phage. In UV-irradiated phage WR was reduced, but not eliminated, in the uvrE mutant, and WM was entirely suppressed. This is another example of uncoupling of WR and WM which shows that several repair systems are active in WR but only some of them are mutagenic.

Chromosomal integration of phage lambda by means of a DNA insertion element

Abstract: Phage lambdacam112, which contains the chloramphenicol resistance transposon Tn9 and has a deletion of attP and the int gene, will lysogenize Escherichia coli K-12. Prophage integration occurs at different chromosomal sites, including lacY and malB, but not at attB. All lambdacam112 prophages are excised from the chromosome after induction but with various efficiencies for different locations. Heteroduplex analysis of lambdaplacZ transducing phages isolated from a lacY::lambdacam112 prophage reveals an insertion sequence 1 (IS1) element at the joint of viral and chromosomal DNA. Two lines of evidence indicate that lambdacam112 encodes an excision activity that recognizes the IS1 element: (i) prophage derepression increases the frequency of excision from lacY to yield lac+ revertants, and (ii) lambdacam112 infection increases reversion of a galT::IS1 mutation about 50-fold. Our results indicate that the IS1 termini of TN9 can replace attP as a site for lambda insertion in the bacterial chromosome and that excision events are catalyzed by an IS1-encoded protein under lambda repressor and N gene control.

Repair and recombination of uv-irradiated phage lambda

Abstract: Intracellular λ DNA (from tandem duplication phages) was extracted and assayed by a transfection procedure. If phage development is blocked, recombination is very low, unless the phages have been UV-irradiated. Repair (recovery of infectivity) and recombination of irradiated DNA proceed readily in the presence of chloramphenicol and rifampin; inhibitors of DNA gyrase (coumermycin and oxolinic acid) block repair and reduce recombination. Recombination, very low in recA cells, is nearly normal in recB . Pyrimidine dimers seem not to be the primary recombinogenic photoproducts.

A single base-pair change creates a Chi recombinational hotspot in bacteriophage lambda

Abstract: X4+ mutations, responsible for the Chi phenotype in phage lambda, locally increase the rate of recombination promoted by the Escherichia coli recombination system (Rec). X+ mutations in the cII gene, one of a few sites in lambda at which such mutations arise, were located genetically and physically with overlapping deletions. DNA sequence analysis of the deletion segment containing the X+ C mutations showed that two independent X+ C mutations arose by the same A-T to T-A transversion. Presumably, this change creates a nucleotide sequence recognized by a protein involved in a rate-limiting step of recombination.

Red-mediated recombination of phage lambda in a recA− recB−host

Abstract: The lambda Red recombination system works poorly among unreplicated gam+ lambda chromosomes in recA- cells compared to recA+ cells. Recombination is not enhanced in recA- recB-cells. Thus, the inability of Red to promote recombination in recA- replication-blocked cross is not due to the hypothetical destruction of recombination intermediates by the recB nuclease. This conclusion strengthens previous proposals that the products of the red genes can operate upon recombinational intermediates which require recA activity for their formation.

Insertion of bacteriophage lambda into the deo operon of Escherichia coli K-12 and isolation of plaque-forming lambdadeo+ transducing bacteriophages.

Abstract: A procedure has been devised to isolate plaque-forming lambda cI857S7 transducing bacteriophage which carry the internal promoter, P3, of the deo operon of Escherichia coli and the deoB and deoD genes, while lacking the deoP and cytP promoters of the same operon, in order to study, specifically, regulation at the P3 site. This has been accomplished by selecting for the insertion of bacteriophage lambda into the deoA gene in a strain deleted for the normal lambda attachment site (delta att lambda) and isolating from this lysogen lambda spi- and lambda EDTAr phage. Among these, lambda pdeoB+D+ phage were identified by their transducing abilities. From in vivo enzyme induction experiments performed on a delta deo strain lysogenized with such phage, they were shown to carry the P3 promoter while lacking the deoP and cytP promoters. A lambdapdeo B+D+ phage phage was used to lysogenize a deo+ delta att lambda strain, integration of lambda occurring within the region of homology, and, from a heat-induced lysate of this strain, a plaque-forming lambda+ phage carrying the complete deo operon was obtained. Phage lambda was also inserted into the deoB and deoD genes and into the tdk gene. By isolating lambdaspi- and lambdaEDTAr phage from the deo::(lambda) mutants and determining which bacterial genes they carried and whether they retained the int gene of lambda, it was found that lambda had inserted into deoD with the same orientation as lambda inserted into attlambda, whereas lambda inserted into deoA and deoB had the opposite orientation. Deletions extending from the site of lambda insertion into the bacterial chromosome were isolated by selecting for heat-resistant revertants. These confirmed the order of markers to be deo-serB-trpR-thr and also placed a locus, msp, determining sensitivity or resistance of male strains to male-specific phages, between trpR and thr. For some reason unknown, but which may be related to the orientation of the lambda prophages, short deletions rendering the bacterium Ser- Thr+ were of much lower frequency from the deoD::(lambda) lysogen than from the other two lysogens. From an examination of the residual deoD enzyme levels in deoB::(lambda) mutants, it was deduced that there may be two promoter sites within the deoB::(lambda) mutants, it was deduced that there may be two promoter sites within the deoB gene, transcription from one of these being sufficient to account for the noncoordinate nature of the induction of deoB and deoD gene products.

malB region in Escherichia coli K-12: specialized transducing bacteriophages and first restriction map.

Abstract: By starting from an Escherichia coli K-12 strain with a lambda phage integrated in the malB region, series of transducing phages carrying part or all of the malB region have been isolated. Genetic mapping of the transduced malB fragments was accomplished by complementation and recombination with known mutations in the region. By using the DNA of these phages, it was found that the malB region is cleaved by the restriction enzymes BglII, EcoRI, HaeII, HincII, SalI, and SstI, but not BamHI, HindIII, KpnI, PstI, XbaI, or XhoI. A physical map was constructed and tentatively correlated with the genetic map.

Bacteriophage P22-mediated specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium: high frequency of aberrant prophage excision.

Abstract: The temperate bacteriophage P22 mediates both generalized and specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium. Specialized transduction by phage P22 is different from, and less restricted than, the well characterized specialized transduction by phage lambda, due to differences in the phage DNA packaging mechanisms. Based on the properties of the DNA packaging mechanism of phage P22 a model for the generation of various types of specialized transducing particles is presented that suggests generation of substantial numbers of specialized transducing genomes which are heterogeneous but only some of which have terminally redundant ends. The primary attachment site, ataA, for phage P22 in S. typhimurium is located between the genes proA,B and supQ newD. (The newD gene is a substitute gene for the leuD gene, restoring leucine prototrophy of leuD mutant strains.) The proA,B and supQ newD genes are very closely linked and thus cotransducible by generalized transducing particles. Specialized transducing particles can carry either proA,B or supQ newD but not both simultaneously, and thus cannot give rise to cotransduction of the proA,B and supQ newD genes. This difference is used to calculate the frequency of generalized and specialized transducing particles from the observed cotransduction frequency in phage lysates. By this method, very high frequencies of supQ newD (10(-2)/PFU)- and proA,B (10(-3)/PFU)-specialized transducing particles were detected in lysates produced by induction of lysogenic strains. These transducing particles most of which would have been produced by independent aberrant excision events (which include in situ packaging), were of various types.

Packaging of ColE1 DNA having a lambda phage cohesive end site.

Abstract: The mechanism of λ phage-mediated transduction of hybrid colicin E1 DNAs of various lengths was studied, and factors influencing the formation of these transducing particles were investigated. The results were as follows:

Bacteriophage P22-mediated specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium: identification of different types of specialized transducing particles.

Abstract: The temperate bacteriophage P22 mediates both generalized and specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium. Specialized transduction by phage P22 is different from, and less restricted than, the well characterized specialized transduction by phage lambda, due to differences in the phage DNA packaging mechanism. Phage lysates produced by induction of lysogenic strains contain very high frequencies of supQ newD- and proA,B-specialized transducing particles (10(-2)/PFU and 10(-3)/PFU, respectively), most of which are produced by independent aberrant excision events of various types. In a model, 12 different modes of transduction mechanisms were characterized by: (i) the structure of the specialized transducing genomes after injection into a new host cell, i.e., linear or circular, and (ii) the requirements for the transduction process, i.e., host recombination functions, phage integration functions, or presence of a prophage. By using different recipient strains and phage helper strains, it was possible to show that most specialized transducing particles (ca. 99%) contain linear genomes that cannot circularize upon injection into a new host cell and that require the presence of an integrated prophage as a site for a recombinational event to give rise to a transductant. Only 0.1% of all specialized transducing particles were shown to transduce by integration, suggesting that transducing genomes containing terminally redundant ends represent only a minor fraction of all transducing particles that are produced. However, it should be pointed out that the frequency (approximately 10(-5)/PFU) of these specialized transducing genomes that can circularize upon injection into a new host cell is as high as or even higher than the frequency of specialized transducing particles of phage lambda. The remaining approximately 1% of all specialized transducing particles can transduce by any one of the other mechanisms described.

Correlation between UV dose requirement for lambda bacteriophage induction and lambda repressor concentration.

Abstract: Escherichia coli K-12 wild type and a uvrA mutant derivative were used to construct isogenic strains bearing one, two, three, or more phage lambda cI genomes and containing increasing concentration of lambda repressor as measured by in vitro operator DNA-binding assays. The survival and phage induction in response to UV irradiation were determined. In both strains, dose-response relationships were obtained as a function of the cellular repressor concentration. The uvrA lysogens required one-tenth the UV fluence of the wild-type counterparts for induction. Lysogenic strains containing plasmids that overproduce the lambdaind+ repressor and the same lysogens with plasmids overproducing the lambdaind- repressor displayed the same survival curves as the nonlysogenic parental strain; however, only the former produced infectious centers (at a frequency of 2 x 10(-3) to 5 x 10(-4) in response to radiation.

Isolation and characterization of a plaque-forming lambda bacteriophage carrying a ColE1 plasmid.

Abstract: A plaque-forming lambdaimm434 bacteriophage carrying the entire genome of colicinogenic factor E1 has been isolated and characterized. This phage, lambdaimm434ColE1, can lysogenize as a stable plasmid within a recombination-deficient Escherichia coli cell that lacks the normal attachment site for lambda phage. Furthermore, it has been found that lambdaimm434ColE1 phage carrying amber mutations in the O and P genes of the lambda genome, i.e., lambdaimm434OamPamColE1, behaves as a plaque-forming phage, and this finding suggests that the ColE1 factor DNA permits replication of the DNA of the plaque-forming phage.

Altered bacteriophage lambda expression in cell division mutants capR(lon) of Escherichia coli K-12.

Abstract: Lambda phage containing double amber mutations in the N gene (λc1857N7N53) can replicate and produce progeny phage in capR(lon) bacteria, but not in isogenic capR+ (lon+) bacteria, when two additional mutations conferring weak suppression (supE44 and str-109) are present. Since weak suppression was necessary, the capR mutation does not provide a bacterial substitute for the N gene. In an attempt to explain and to relate the phenomenon with the finding that λ+ forms clear plaques on capR lawns and lysogenizes capR strains poorly N gene-dependent transcription, translation and functional mRNA decay was measured using a λlac phage in which β-galactosidase (β gal) synthesis is dependent on the N+ gene of the phage (λplacW205). No measurable difference in initiation of λ leftward N-dependent transcription or translation was observed in a capR strain compared to an isogenic capR+ strain. A differencewas found in the rate of synthesis of N-dependent β-gal however, between λ-infected capR and capR+ bacteria. λplacW205-infected capR9 strains exhibited a 2 to 4 fold lower rate of β-gal synthesis. This decreased rate of β-gal synthesis was the result of the size heterogeneity of the capR cells when grown in complex medium. That is, complex medium-induced capR filaments synthesized lower amounts of N-dependent β-gal. The results are discussed in relation to the findings in other laboratories.

Characterization of a mouse DNA clone containing an immunoglobulin variable region gene

Abstract: A 4.8 kilobase mouse embryo DNA fragment was inserted into a phage lambda genome and was subsequently characterized by electron microscopy, restriction enzyme mapping and partial DNA sequencing. This fragment contains a 400 base sequence which is homologous to that of an immunoglobulin light lambda chain mRNA which spans 3.3 to 3.7 kilobases from one end of the fragment. Restriction enzyme mapping as well as partial nucleotide sequencing of the 3' terminal of the homology region confirm the previous conclusion [Tonegawa, Brack, Hozumi and Schuller, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 74, 3518-3522 (1977)] that the cloned DNA fragment contains a Vlambda gene sequence which is separate from any Clambda sequence.