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. 1984 Oct;108(2):291–304. doi: 10.1093/genetics/108.2.291

Identification and Characterization of the alc Gene Product of Bacteriophage T4

Elizabeth Kutter 1,2, Rolf Drivdahl 1,2, Keith Rand 1,2
PMCID: PMC1202406  PMID: 6389256

Abstract

Bacteriophage T4 infection rapidly and almost completely inhibits transcription of host and other phage DNAs. Two processes have been implicated to date in this inhibition: (1) ADP ribosylation of the α subunits of the RNA polymerase, involving gpalt (which is injected with the phage DNA) and, later, gpmod; and (2) the action of the T4 alc/unf gene product, synthesized immediately after infection. The latter unfolds the host genome and also blocks transcription of cytosine-containing DNA. Here, we describe the identification on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels of gpalc/unf, the more precise mapping of the gene and the identification and analysis of the appropriate DNA sequence from an Unf+ alc mutant.

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Selected References

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