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DNA Looping in Prophage Lambda: New Insight from Single-Molecule Microscopy

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Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

The lambda (λ) bacteriophage epigenetic switch is a molecular mechanism that permits the quiescent (lysogenic) state of the bacteriophage to irreversibly switch to the virulent (lytic) state. After infection of its host, E. coli, λ, a temperate phage, most often grows lysogenically. The phage DNA integrates in the bacterial chromosome and is replicated along with it and transmitted to the bacterial progeny as a prophage. Lysogeny is very stable and yet, the switch to lysis is very efficient. Upon switching to lysis, the viral DNA is excised from the bacterial chromosome and the host machinery is used to produce viral progeny that is then released upon bursting of the host. The pathway to lysis is triggered in response to threats such as starvation, poisoning, or DNA damage.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank previous and current members of our groups whose research has facilitated these studies. We are also grateful to Haw Yang, who has provided reagents, analytical tools, and advice. The work described in this chapter was supported by the Italian Funding of Basic Research to LF and DDD, by the HFSP(RGP0050/2002-C) to L.F. and S.A., by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute and the Center for Cancer Research to S.A., by the Emory University Research Council and the NIH (RGM084070A) to LF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cell Biology Department, Emory University, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Laura Finzi & David Dunlap

Authors
  1. Laura Finzi
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  2. Carlo Manzo
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  3. Chiara Zurla
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  4. Haowei Wang
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  5. Dale Lewis
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  6. Sankar Adhya
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  7. David Dunlap
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Correspondence to Laura Finzi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Physics, Northeastern University, Forsyth Street 110, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Mark C. Williams

  2. College of Medicine, Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, First Street SW., 200, Rochester, 55905, Minnesota, USA

    L. James Maher III

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Finzi, L. et al. (2010). DNA Looping in Prophage Lambda: New Insight from Single-Molecule Microscopy. In: Williams, M., Maher, L. (eds) Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_9

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