Bacteriophage SPO1 development: defects in a gene 31 mutant

SARACHU A.N; AÑON, MARÍA CRISTINA; GRAU O

JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY

AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY

Lugar: Washington; Año: 1978 vol. 27 p. 483 - 489

0022-538X

SPOl temperature-sensitive mutant ts14-1, located in cistron 31, has a DD(DNA synthesis-delayed) phenotype at 370C and produces progeny in a stretchedprogram. At 440C it behaves as a DO (DNA synthesis-defective) mutant andshuts off the viral RNA synthesis about 10 min after infection. The thermalsensitivity of this mutant is due to the inactivity of gp-31 (the product of gene 31)at 440C. However, gp-31 is synthesized at that temperature and partly recoversits activity at 370C. Only 5 min at the permissive temperature is enough to triggerthe continuation of the phage program and to produce progeny. The partial defectat 37°C and the expansion of the middle program together with the pleiotropicdefects at the nonpermissive temperature could be suitable for the study of thecontrols involved in bacteriophage development.