Summary
Two transcriptional control mechanisms of T7 can be distinguished both affecting the transcription by E. coli RNA polymerase: An early control and an “early-late” control. In wild type infections, both transcriptional control proteins appear at approximately the same time. Mutations in the early control gene have, therefore, little effect on transcription, if tested in the presence of virus RNA polymerase. Using mutants in T7 RNA polymerase, the appearance of the “early-late” control is delayed. Then, the effect of the early control gene is dramatic, its deficiency leading to an overproduction of host and early T7 RNA. The early RNA control appears to be exerted by the T7 protein kinase, the “early-late” control protein is most likely identical with the transcriptional inhibitor, which has been isolated and purified (Ponta et al., 1974). Both control proteins inhibit the initiation of RNA synthesis by E. coli RNA polymerase.
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Ponta, H., Rahmsdorf, H.J., Pai, S.H. et al. Control of gene expression in bacteriophage T7: Transcriptional controls. Molec. gen. Genet. 134, 281–287 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337463
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337463