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PMID: 3065611 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Lethal effect of lambda DNA terminase in recombination deficient Escherichia coli.

Molecular & general genetics : MGG ·Vol. 213 ·No. 1 ·1988-07-00 ·Pages 42-9

Murialdo H

Abstract

lambda DNA terminase is the enzyme that catalyses the cleavage of lambda DNA concatemers into genome-size molecules and packages them into the capsid. The cleavage (DNA maturation) takes place in a specific site in the phage DNA called cos. Either one of two Escherichia coli proteins, integration host factor (IHF) and terminase host factor (THF), is required, in addition to terminase, for maturation of wild-type lambda DNA in vitro. In vivo, at least some cos cleavage is known to occur in mutants that are unable to synthesize active IHF. No THF-defective mutants have yet been isolated. In order to determine if IHF, THF or any other host protein is involved in lambda DNA maturation in vivo, I devised a selection for host mutants that are unable to support cos cleavage. The selection is based on the assumption that lambda DNA terminase will kill cells by cleaving chromosomally located cos sites. I found that DNA terminase will indeed kill cells provided that they contain a chromosomal cos site and provided also that they are defective in the host recA or recB genes. These two genes are required for certain pathways of genetic recombination and repair of damaged DNA, and I suggest that they prevent terminase-induced killing by repairing broken chromosomes. Interestingly, mutation in a related host gene, recD, did not render cells susceptible to terminase killing. recD and recB both encode subunits of exonuclease V, but recD mutants, unlike recB, remain proficient in genetic recombination and repair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MeSH Terms
Chromosome Deletion Coliphages/genetics Endodeoxyribonucleases/biosynthesis,genetics Escherichia coli/enzymology,genetics Genes Genes, Bacterial Mutation Plasmids Recombination, Genetic Species Specificity Temperature
Chemicals
Endodeoxyribonucleases terminase
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Murialdo H
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Article Info
Journal
Molecular & general genetics : MGG
Abbr.
Mol Gen Genet
ISSN
0026-8925
DOI
10.1007/BF00333396
Published
1988-07-00
Pages
42-9
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
0125036
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00333396
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