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Integration of bacteriophages λ and ϕ80 in wild-type Escherichia coli at secondary attachment sites

I. Formation of secondary lysogens

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Summary

The family of lambdoid phages displays a varying specificity of integration into the host chromosome. The λ phage DNA failed to get inserted at the secondary site(s) of the gal operon (frequency <2.6x10-8) in the presence of the primary (normal) att site. By contrast, ϕ80 and the λatt80 hybrid (λxϕ80) became integrated into wild-type Escherichia coli at at least two secondary att sites of the btuB locus, and the latter near purE and purC as well (frequency 2x10-3-10-4). The integration of ϕ80 and λatt80 into btuB occurred with about the same frequency as in cells in which the normal insertion site had been deleted (0.7-4.0x10-6). An analysis of the secondary lysogens with the prophage in btuB showed them to be polylysogens; the additional prophage(s) was found at the primary att site. We also failed to observe the integration into other loci of ϕ80 and λatt80 with the formation of secondary monolysogens (frequency <0.0035 at MOI-10-3 or 10). It is presumed that these prophages become integrated at secondary att sites only if the primary site is occupied.

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Abbreviations

MOI:

multiplicity of infection (PFU/cell)

PFU:

plaque-forming unit

TP:

transducing phage

P1/HfrH:

P1vir multiplied on HfrH

Rif-R:

rifampin-resistance

Int:

int protein

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Genetics, USSR Academy of Sciences, 123182, Moscow, USSR

    G.Ya. Kholodii & S. Z. Mindlin

Authors
  1. G.Ya. Kholodii
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  2. S. Z. Mindlin
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Communicated by D. Goldfarb

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Kholodii, G., Mindlin, S.Z. Integration of bacteriophages λ and ϕ80 in wild-type Escherichia coli at secondary attachment sites. Mol Gen Genet 197, 104–108 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327929

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327929

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