Lambda phage

About: Lambda phage is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1609 publications have been published within this topic receiving 84675 citations. The topic is also known as: Enterobacteria phage lambda.

Cloning of cDNA of major antigen of foot and mouth disease virus and expression in E. coli

Abstract: Double-stranded DNA copies of the single-stranded genomic RNA of foot and mouth disease virus have been cloned into the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322. A restriction map of the viral genome was established and aligned with the biochemical map of foot and mouth disease virus. The coding sequence for structural protein VP1, the major antigen of the virus, was identified and inserted into a plasmid vector where the expression of this sequence is under control of the phage lambda PL promoter. In an appropriate host the synthesis of antigenic polypeptide can be demonstrated by radioimmunoassay.

Structure of the DNA-binding region of lac repressor inferred from its homology with cro repressor

Abstract: It is shown that the amino acid sequence and the DNA gene sequence of the 25 amino-terminal residues of the lac repressor protein of Escherichia coli are homologous with the sequences of five DNA-binding proteins: the cro repressor proteins from phage lambda and phage 434, the cI and cII proteins from phage lambda, and the repressor protein from Salmonella phage P22. The region of homology between lac repressor and the other proteins coincides with the principal DNA-binding region of cro repressor. In particular, residues Tyr-17 through Gln-26 of lac repressor correspond to the alpha-helix Gln-27 through Ala-36 of cro repressor, which we have postulated to bind within the major groove of the DNA and to be primarily responsible for the recognition of the DNA operator region by the protein [Anderson, W. F., Ohlendorf, D. H., Takeda, Y. & Matthews, B. W. (1981) Nature (London) 290, 754--758]. By analogy with cro repressor, we propose that residues 17--26 of lac repressor are alpha-helical and that this helix and a twofold-related alpha-helix in an adjacent subunit bind within successive major grooves of the lac operator, which is in a right-handed Watson--Crick B-DNA conformation. Also, by analogy with cro repressor, we suggest that residues Thr-5 through Ala-13 of lac repressor form a second alpha-helix and contribute, in part, to DNA binding. The proposed structure for the DNA-binding region of lac repressor is consistent with chemical protection data and with genetic experiments identifying the probable locations of a number of the residues of the repressor protein that either do or do not participate in DNA binding.

Nongenetic Individuality in the Host–Phage Interaction

Abstract: Isogenic bacteria can exhibit a range of phenotypes, even in homogeneous environmental conditions. Such nongenetic individuality has been observed in a wide range of biological processes, including differentiation and stress response. A striking example is the heterogeneous response of bacteria to antibiotics, whereby a small fraction of drug-sensitive bacteria can persist under extensive antibiotic treatments. We have previously shown that persistent bacteria enter a phenotypic state, identified by slow growth or dormancy, which protects them from the lethal action of antibiotics. Here, we studied the effect of persistence on the interaction between Escherichia coli and phage lambda. We used long-term time-lapse microscopy to follow the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the phage lytic promoter, as well as cellular fate, in single infected bacteria. Intriguingly, we found that, whereas persistent bacteria are protected from prophage induction, they are not protected from lytic infection. Quantitative analysis of gene expression reveals that the expression of lytic genes is suppressed in persistent bacteria. However, when persistent bacteria switch to normal growth, the infecting phage resumes the process of gene expression, ultimately causing cell lysis. Using mathematical models for these two host–phage interactions, we found that the bacteria's nongenetic individuality can significantly affect the population dynamics, and might be relevant for understanding the coevolution of bacterial hosts and phages.

bor gene of phage lambda, involved in serum resistance, encodes a widely conserved outer membrane lipoprotein.

Abstract: bor is one of two recently identified genes of phage lambda which are expressed during lysogeny and whose products display homology to bacterial virulence proteins. bor is closely related to the iss locus of plasmid CoIV,I-K94, which promotes bacterial resistance to serum complement killing in vitro and virulence in animals. bor has a similar in vitro effect. We show here that the bor gene product is a lipoprotein located in the Escherichia coli outer membrane. We also find that antigenically related proteins are expressed by lysogens of a number of other lambdoid coliphage, in cells carrying the cloned iss gene, and in several clinical isolates of E. coli. These results demonstrate that bor sequences are widespread and present a starting point for mechanistic analysis of bor-mediated serum resistance.

RecET direct cloning and Redαβ recombineering of biosynthetic gene clusters, large operons or single genes for heterologous expression.

Abstract: Wang et al. present a protocol for direct cloning and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters, large operons or single genes using combined RecET and Redαβ recombineering systems present within a single E. coli host. Full-length RecE and RecT from Rac prophage mediate highly efficient linear–linear homologous recombination that can be used to clone large DNA regions directly from genomic DNA into expression vectors, bypassing library construction and screening. Homologous recombination mediated by Redαβ from lambda phage has been widely used for recombinant DNA engineering. Here we present a protocol for direct cloning and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters, large operons or single genes from genomic DNA using one Escherichia coli host that harbors both RecET and Redαβ systems. The pipeline uses standardized cassettes for horizontal gene transfer options, as well as vectors with different replication origins configured to minimize recombineering background through the use of selectively replicating templates or CcdB counterselection. These optimized reagents and protocols facilitate fast acquisition of transgenes from genomic DNA preparations, which are ready for heterologous expression within 1 week.