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. 1985 Feb;53(2):708–709. doi: 10.1128/jvi.53.2.708-709.1985

Gene K of bacteriophage phi X174 codes for a protein which affects the burst size of phage production.

S Gillam, T Atkinson, A Markham, M Smith
PMCID: PMC254692  PMID: 3155803

Abstract

Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to produce a T----A change at nucleotide 70 of phi X174 genome. This generates an am codon, TAG, in the gene K reading frame without affecting the amino acid, leucine, encoded by the overlapping gene A. The gene K mutant produces small plaques on su- hosts. It has an identical latent period, but a more reduced burst size than that of the wild-type phi X174. The reduced burst size in the gene K mutant suggests that the gene K protein, although not essential, has a role in increasing infectivity by increasing the burst size three- to sixfold.

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Selected References

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