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Control of gene expression in bacteriophage λ: Suppression of N mutants by mutations of the antirepressor

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Summary

The lysogenization and induction properties of phages λsusN 7 CI 857Ai7 and λsusN 53 CI 857 cro 27 are described. Both phages, at 32° kill little, but show only a moderate frequency of lysogenization whether an amber suppressor is present or absent in the host bacterium. In the latter case, lysogens for λsusN 7 CI 857 Ai 7 or λsusN 53 CI 857 cro 27 can exist in two different regulatory states, here called Pr - and Pr +. The Pr + phase is characterized by phage release and cell death at 40°; conversely, cells in the Pr - phase are similarly killed but release no or very little phage. Pr - is the phase usually obtained at lysogenization. Each phase may be transmitted at 32° for an unlimited number of generations, however, shifts to the opposite phase take place from time to time with a low probability.

Two previously described antirepressor defective mutants, Ai 7, and cro 27, were found to suppress specifically the growth defect caused by an amber mutation in gene N. This suppression is observed in non-suppressing hosts at 40 or 42°.

Apparent revertants of N - mutants were shown to be often (80%) caused by a second mutation, in the Ai gene (also called tof, cro and fed). All the revertants so far examined appeared to be recessive. λ phages bearing a double amber mutation in gene N did not acquire full N independence by the acquisition of an Ai mutation; this could be achieved, however, in the presence of a CII mutation.

The above findings are discussed in terms of a direct interaction between the N, Ai and CII products.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Studi Acidi Nucleici, Rome, Italy

    Paul Galland, Rita Cortini & Enrico Calef

  2. Istituto di Genetica, University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Paul Galland, Rita Cortini & Enrico Calef

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  1. Paul Galland
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  2. Rita Cortini
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  3. Enrico Calef
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Communicated by G. Bertani

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Galland, P., Cortini, R. & Calef, E. Control of gene expression in bacteriophage λ: Suppression of N mutants by mutations of the antirepressor. Molec. Gen. Genet. 142, 155–170 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266096

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266096

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