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. 1995 Apr;139(4):1469–1481. doi: 10.1093/genetics/139.4.1469

Involvement of the Host Initiator Function Dnaa in the Replication of Coliphage λ

G Wegrzyn 1, A Wegrzyn 1, I Konieczny 1, K Bielawski 1, G Konopa 1, M Obuchowski 1, D R Helinski 1, K Taylor 1
PMCID: PMC1206477  PMID: 7789753

Abstract

We demonstrate that the initiation of coliphage λ DNA replication is dependent on the host initiator function dnaA, provided that the lambdoid prophage Rac is absent. Presence of Rac compensated the absence of dnaA function, causing initiation of replication. In dnaAts rac(+) cells at 43°, most of parental phage DNA molecules, after one round of theta replication, switched to a replication with features of the sigma mode and produced progeny at high yield. Initiation of replication of the λPts1 mutant at 43° was blocked by dnaA function; however, under dnaA(-)rac(+) conditions all parental phage DNA molecules, after one round of theta replication, switched to the sigma mode and produced progeny at high yield. Taking into account our recent finding that transcriptional activation of oriλ seems to be dnaA-regulated (to be published elsewhere), we suggest that the DnaA-λPts1 incompatibility occurs at the insertion of the oriλ-bound λO-λP-DnaB preprimosome between the complementary λ DNA strands. The role of Rac and the mechanism of the switch from theta to sigma mode of λ phage DNA replication are discussed.

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Selected References

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