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Influence of phage T3 and T7 gene functions on a type III (EcoP1) DNA restriction-modification system in vivo

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Summary

The ocr + gene function (gp 0.3) of bacteriophages T3 and T7 not only counteracts type I (EcoB, EcoK) but also type III restriction endonucleases (EcoP1). Despite the presence of recognition sites, phage DNA as well as simultaneously introduced plasmid DNA are protected by ocr + expression against both the endonucleolytic and the methylating activities of the EcoP1 enzyme. Nevertheless, the EcoP1 protein causes the exclusion of T3 and T7 in P1-lysogenic cells, apparently by exerting a repressor-like effect on phage gene expression. T3 which induces an S-adenosylmethionine hydrolase is less susceptible to the repressor effect of the SAM-stimulated EcoP1 enzyme. The abundance of EcoP1 recognition sites in the T7 genome is explained by their near identity with the T7 DNA primase recognition site.

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Abbreviations

d.p.m.:

decompositions per min

EcoB, EcoK, EcoP1, EcoP15, EcoRII, EcoR124, HinfIII:

restriction endonucleases coded by Escherichia coli strains B or K, E. coli plasmids P1, P15, RII or R124, and Haemophilus influenzae Rf 232, resp.

e.o.p.:

efficiency of plating

gp:

gene product (in the sense of protein)

m.o.i.:

multiplicity of infection (phage/cell)

ocr + :

gene function which overcomes classical restriction

p.f.u.:

plaque-forming units

SAM:

S-adenosylmethionine

sam + :

gene function with S-adenosylmethionine-cleaving enzyme (SAMase) activity

UV:

ultraviolet light

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Virology, Humboldt University, Schumannstr. 20/21, DDR-1040, Berlin, German Democratic Republic

    Detlev H. Krüger, Monika Reuter, Sigrid Hansen & Cornelia Schroeder

Authors
  1. Detlev H. Krüger
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  2. Monika Reuter
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  3. Sigrid Hansen
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  4. Cornelia Schroeder
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Communicated by W. Arber

Dedicated to Professor Konstantin Spies on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday

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Krüger, D.H., Reuter, M., Hansen, S. et al. Influence of phage T3 and T7 gene functions on a type III (EcoP1) DNA restriction-modification system in vivo. Mol Gen Genet 185, 457–461 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334140

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