Coliphage 186 infection requires host initiation functions dnaA and dnaC

The interaction of bacteriophage P2 B protein with Escherichia coli DnaB helicase

Bacteriophage P2 requires several host proteins for lytic replication, including helicase DnaB but not the helicase loader, DnaC. Some genetic studies have suggested that the loading is done by a phage-encoded protein, P2 B. However, a P2 minichromosome containing only the P2 initiator gene A and a marker gene can be established as a plasmid without requiring the P2 B gene. Here we demonstrate that P2 B associates with DnaB. This was done by using the yeast two-hybrid system in vivo and was confirmed in vitro, where (35)S-labeled P2 B bound specifically to DnaB adsorbed to Q Sepharose beads and monoclonal antibodies directed against the His-tagged P2 B protein were shown to coprecipitate the DnaB protein. Finally, P2 B was shown to stabilize the opening of a reporter origin, a reaction that is facilitated by the inactivation of DnaB. In this respect, P2 B was comparable to lambda P protein, which is known to be capable of binding and inactivating the helicase while acting as a helicase loader. Even though P2 B has little similarity to other known or predicted helicase loaders, we suggest that P2 B is required for efficient loading of DnaB and that this role, although dispensable for P2 plasmid replication, becomes essential for P2 lytic replication.

Studies of bacteriophage P2 DNA replication: localization of the cleavage site of the A protein

Bacteriophage P2 replicates via a modified rolling circle-type of mechanism, where the P2 A protein acts as an initiator of the replication by inducing a single-stranded cut at the origin of replication (ori). The exact location of the cut induced by the A protein in vivo is determined in this report by: (i) restriction analysis; (ii) DNA sequence analysis; and (iii) primer extensions. It is located 89.2% from the left end of the P2 genome, which is within the coding part of the A gene, in a region devoid of secondary structures. The A gene has been cloned into an expression vector, and the A protein has been purified. The purified A protein does not bind to double-stranded ori containing DNA, but it cleaves single-stranded ori containing DNA, which indicates that a special DNA structure and/or protein is required to make the ori accessible for the A protein.

DNA replication studies with coliphage 186: the involvement of the Escherichia coli DnaA protein in 186 replication is indirect

The inability of coliphage 186 to infect productively a dnaA(Ts) mutant at a restrictive temperature was confirmed. However, the requirement by 186 for DnaA is indirect, since 186 can successfully infect suppressed dnaA (null) strains. The block to 186 infection of a dnaA(Ts) strain at a restrictive temperature is at the level of replication but incompletely so, since some 20% of the phage specific replication seen with infection of a dnaA+ host does occur. A mutant screen, to isolate host mutants blocked in 186-specific replication but not in the replication of the close relative coliphage P2, which has no DnaA requirement, yielded a mutant whose locus we mapped to the rep gene. A 186 mutant able to infect this rep mutant was isolated, and the mutation was located in the phage replication initiation endonuclease gene A, suggesting direct interaction between the Rep helicase and phage endonuclease during replication. DNA sequencing indicated a glutamic acid-to-valine change at residue 155 of the 694-residue product of gene A. In the discussion, we speculate that the indirect need of DnaA function is at the level of lagging-strand synthesis in the rolling circle replication of 186.

Replication of damaged DNA and the molecular mechanism of ultraviolet light mutagenesis

On UV irradiation of Escherichia coli cells, DNA replication is transiently arrested to allow removal of DNA damage by DNA repair mechanisms. This is followed by a resumption of DNA replication, a major recovery function whose mechanism is poorly understood. During the post-UV irradiation period the SOS stress response is induced, giving rise to a multiplicity of phenomena, including UV mutagenesis. The prevailing model is that UV mutagenesis occurs by the filling in of single-stranded DNA gaps present opposite UV lesions in the irradiated chromosome. These gaps can be formed by the activity of DNA replication or repair on the damaged DNA. The gap filling involves polymerization through UV lesions (also termed bypass synthesis or error-prone repair) by DNA polymerase III. The primary source of mutations is the incorporation of incorrect nucleotides opposite lesions. UV mutagenesis is a genetically regulated process, and it requires the SOS-inducible proteins RecA, UmuD, and UmuC. It may represent a minor repair pathway or a genetic program to accelerate evolution of cells under environmental stress conditions.

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.

UV irradiation inhibits initiation of DNA replication from oriC in Escherichia coli

Irradiation of Escherichia coli with UV light causes a transient inhibition of DNA replication. This effect is generally thought to be accounted for by blockage of the elongation of DNA replication by UV-induced lesions in the DNA (a cis effect). However, by introducing an unirradiated E. coli origin (oriC)-dependent replicon into UV-irradiated cells, we have been able to show that the environment of a UV-irradiated cell inhibits initiation of replication from oriC on a dimer-free replicon. We therefore conclude that UV-irradiation of E. coli leads to a trans-acting inhibition of initiation of replication. The inhibition is transient and does not appear to be an SOS function.

DNA replication studies with coliphage 186. II. Depression of host replication by a 186 gene

Using pre-labelling rather than pulse-labelling studies to determine rates of replication, we have shown that coliphage 186 infection is accompanied by a depression in host DNA replication. We have isolated mutants of the phage gene involved and mapped them in the early region of the phage genome. Sequencing the mutants ultimately led us to the identification of the gene that we have named the dhr gene.

Host participation in plasmid maintenance: dependence upon dnaA of replicons derived from P1 and F

Nonparticipation of the bacterial dnaA gene in plasmid replication has been assumed to be the general rule. In conditional dnaA mutants of Escherichia coli, only plasmid pSC101 has been shown to have a dnaA requirement. Experiments with dnaA null mutants of E. coli, presented here, show that dnaA plays a critical and direct role in the replication of miniplasmids derived from P1 and F as it does in the initiation of bacterial replication. Evidence is also presented for the existence of a dnaA-independent secondary replicon of P1 that is able to drive bacterial chromosome replication but is inadequate to support the maintenance of P1 as a plasmid in E. coli.

Requirement of E. coli DNA synthesis functions for the lytic replication of bacteriophage P1

P1 lytic growth was examined in a number of different temperature sensitive mutants of E. coli that affect chromosomal replication. Growth was analyzed by measurements of phage burst sizes and specific DNA synthesis. Efficient P1 growth required each of the bacterial elongation functions dnaE (polC), dnaZ (sub units of E. coli polymerase III holoenzyme), and dnaG (primase) but was not dependent on the elongation function dnaB (mobile promoter). Of two initiation functions tested the dnaA function was found to be dispensable for normal growth whereas the dnaC function was essential. Temperature shift experiments with different dnaC mutants showed that the initiation component of the dnaC function was needed continuously throughout at least the first half of the lytic cycle, while the dnaC elongation activity was probably required during the entire cycle for normal phage yields. In two respects the dependence of P1 lytic growth on E. coli DNA synthesis functions was significantly different from that reported for P1 plasmid replication (Scott and Vapnek, 1980). Thus, lytic replication was far more dependent on a functional polC gene product than was plasmid replication and did not require the bacterial dnaB product.

Genetic studies of coliphage 186. II. Genes associated with phage replication and host cell lysis

DNA synthesis in coliphage 186-infected cells was investigated. Phage 186 appeared to inhibit host DNA synthesis early in infection. The subsequent synthesis of phage 186 DNA was dependent on the product of 186 gene A. The product of gene B controlled both the production of late 186 proteins and the cessation of 186 DNA synthesis, and the products of genes O and P had no influence on 186 DNA synthesis. The product of gene P controlled host cell lysis, and the product of gene O may have some regulatory function.

The transient inability of the conjugating female cell to host 186 infection explains the absence of zygotic induction for 186

In an Hfr(186) X F- cross, the 186 prophage on the incoming male chromosome is not induced, despite the fact that prophage 186 can be induced by other means (W. H. Woods and J.B. Egan, J Virol. 14:1349-1356, 1974). We show here that the conjugating female is temporarily inhibitory to infection by 186, and this delay, we postulate, enables cI repression to be reestablished before the female cell recovers its 186 sensitivity.

Coliphage 186 Replication is delayed when the host cell is UV irradiated before infection

In contrast to results with injections by lambda and P2, the latent period for infection by coliphage 186 is extended when the host cell is UV irradiated before infection. We find that 186 replication is significantly delayed in such a cell, even though the phage itself has not been irradiated. In contrast, replication of the closely related phage P2 under the same conditions is not affected.