Restriction cleavage maps of coliphages 186 and P2

Control of gene expression in the temperate coliphage 186. IX. B is the sole phage function needed to activate transcription of the phage late genes

Using plasmid clones we have determined that the late control function B is the only phage function that is needed to activate a late promoter of coliphage 186, and we predict that it functions as an auxiliary factor to RNA polymerase in the activation of late transcription. We have also shown that a high concentration of B will activate late transcription from a prophage, and we conclude that replicating DNA is not a template requirement for B to function. The original demonstration of a need for the replication gene A in late transcription can be explained by the fact that replication leads to an increase in B gene dosage, with the consequent increase in B concentration leading to the efficient activation of the late promoters.

DNA replication studies with coliphage 186. III. A single phage gene is required for phage 186 replication

We have shown that the BglII to BamHI (79.6% to 95.8%) region of the coliphage 186 chromosome can direct 186-specific replication. DNA sequencing of the region revealed five presumptive genes, CP80, CP81, CP83, CP84 and CP87. Surprisingly, alleles of the previously defined replication gene, A, were localized in both CP84 and CP87. We have successfully constructed a 186 minichromosome using the single gene CP87, and determined that CP84 was not concerned with replication, neither of a minichromosome nor of the phage. Rather, the replication defect seen with amber mutants of CP84 reflects a polarity effect on the downstream expression of CP87. We have concluded that CP87 is the only phage gene necessary for 186 replication, and have called it gene A.

Characterization of phage 18, an unstable coliphage

Phage 18, a noninducible coliphage, is quite unstable and therefore difficult to study. Newly developed very gentle lysis and mounting techniques yielded isolated virions for examination by electron microscopy. The phage has a contractile tail with a length of 130 nm and an isometric head with a capsid diameter of 50 nm. Phage 18 is similar in morphology to phage P2 but is heteroimmune to it. DNA extracted from a clear-plaque mutant of phage 18 was subjected to BamHI restriction endonuclease digestion and was found to be easily distinguishable from the published restriction patterns for P2, phage 299, or phage 186 DNA. The genome size was calculated to be 33.5 kb. Using the DNA melting point, phage 18 DNA (G+C) content was determined to be 55.0% and its buoyant density was determined to be 1.715.

Control of gene expression in the P2-related temperate coliphages. IV. Concerning the late control gene and control of its transcription

In this paper we have sequenced four amber mutants and thereby confirmed the gene D (CP65) and gene B (CP67) assignments made in the accompanying paper (Kalionis et al., 1986). We have also studied, by gel electrophoresis, the transcription patterns of gene B in vivo. In a lysogen, gene B is present on a short transcript under autogenous (negative) control. Upon prophage induction, this transcript is amplified, but later in the cycle gene B is present on a larger transcript that originates in the late region. We have detected two copies of an inverted repeat in the promoter region of the B gene that we predict is recognized by the B protein. One arm of this repeat is associated with three of four P2 late promoters, downstream from the start point of transcription. The repeat is not present in the promoter region of P2 ogr. We describe the considerable homology in amino acid sequence seen with the late control proteins 186 gpB, P4 gp delta and P2 gpOgr, and present a working model for control of late gene transcription.

Control of gene expression in the P2-related template coliphages. III. DNA sequence of the major control region of phage 186

The PstI fragment (65.5% to 77.4%) of coliphage 186, known genetically to encode the major control genes, has been sequenced, and an analysis performed to assess coding capacity, transcription-translation signals, and to identify any other significant features. Our analysis indicates that the region encodes: seven genes, including the int and cI genes, which overlap, the late control gene B, and two genes, named CP75 and CP76, encoding potential DNA-binding proteins; a promoter pB and terminator tB for the rightward transcription of the B gene, and we predict the existence of this transcript in a lysogen; a promoter pL and terminator tL for leftward transcription that encodes the int and cI genes, and represents the presumed lysogenic transcript; a promoter pR for rightward transcription to give the presumed (early) lytic transcript that is overlapping and convergent with the lysogenic transcript; and finally, a potential operator site for repressor binding in the region of the pR promoter. Preliminary evidence is presented to support this analysis.

Genetic map of coliphage 186 from a novel use of marker rescue frequencies

A genetic map of phage 186 has been constructed, using the frequency of marker rescue from 186 mutant prophages for genes to the left of att, and int promoted recombination for genes to its right. At the left end of the genome lie 7 genes involved in the formation of the phage head, followed to the right by the lysis gene P, a gene (O) of unknown function, and a group of 11 genes involved in the formation of the phage tail. Gene B, the late control gene, lies to the right of this group but to the left of the phage attachment site. To the right of the att site lie the non-essential genes (cI and cII) involved in lysogen formation and the gene (A) required for 186 DNA synthesis.

A method which facilitates the ordering of DNA restriction fragments

The Southern transfer technique has been used to provide a generally applicable method for ordering DNA restriction fragments. It involves electrophoresis of partially digested DNA, transfer to nitrocellulose filter paper and annealing to a 32P-labelled fragment. Only those partials containing that particular fragment will reanneal to the probe and produce bands on autoradiography. The size of each partial in the labelled set is the sum of the sizes of the fragment used as probe and of one or more adjacent fragments. Thus the size of the adjacent fragments can be determined from the size increments of this set of partials. The method is illustrated by the mapping of certain BamHI sites on coliphage 186 DNA.

A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of bacteriophage P2

A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of phage P2 was constructed. The enzymes used and, within parenthesis, the number of their cleavage sites on the P2 lg cc DNA molecule were: AvaI(3), BalI(1), BAMI(3), BglII(3), HaeIII (more than 40; only three were mapped), HindIII(0), HpaI(10), KpnI(3), PstI(3), SalI(2) and SmaI(2). The EcoRI cleavage sites (3), as determined earlier, were used as reference points for this study. The DNAs of a variety of P2 mutants carrying chromosomal aberrations (dell, del2, del3, del6, vir22, vir37(2), vir79 and vir94) were also similarly examined.