Coliphage BA14: a new relative of phage T7.

Coliphage BA14 was isolated from sewage and shown to be related to phages T7 and T3. It is similar to T3 in that it directs the synthesis of an S-adenosyl-methionine-cleaving enzyme (SAMase) early upon infection. However, it differs from all other known T7-related coliphages by the inability of its RNA polymerase (gene 1 product) to transcribe T7 DNA or T3 DNA.

Involvement of the bacterial groM gene product in bacteriophage T7 reproduction. I. Arrest at the level of DNA packaging.

The multiplication of bacteriophage T7 is blocked in Escherichia coli M. The genetic determinant of this ability (groM) to inhibit T7 growth was transferred to an E. coli K-12 recipient by means of conjugation.

The strategy of infection as a criterion for phylogenetic relationships of non-coli phages morphologically similar to phage T7.

Five phages which are morphologically similar to coliphage T7 but attack other host bacteria have been compared to T7 and to its relative, T3, by the following criteria: (a) cross-reactivity with antisera against T7 and T3, (b) DNA base sequence homologies, as determined by the C0t technique, (c) synthesis of two phage-coded enzymes: RNA polymerase and SAMase, (d) patterns of phage-directed protein synthesis, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of phage coat subunits. As judged by all these criteria, Pseudomonas phage PX3 is not related to T7; thus, morphological similarity was attributed to convergent evolution. The other phages, i.

Genetic map of bacteriophage T3.

About 200 amber mutants of phage T3 were found to lie in 14 different genes. These genes are homologous to known T7 genes. The genetic map of T3 is very similar to that of T7.

Synthesis of bacteriophage-coded gene products during infection of Escherichia coli with amber mutants of T3 and T7 defective in gene 1.

During nonpermissive infection by a T7 amber mutant in gene 1 (phage RNA polymerase-deficient), synthesis of the products of the phage genes 3 (endonuclease), 3, 5 (lysozyme), 5 (DNA polymerase), and 17 (serum blocking power) was shown to occur at about half the rate as during wild-type infection. This relatively high rate of expression of "late" genes (transcribed normally by the phage RNA polymerase) seems to be a general feature of all T7 mutants in gene 1 from our collection. In contrast, T3 gene 1 mutants and a T7 gene 1 mutant from another collection showed late protein synthesis at very reduced rates.

Physiological and genetic aspects of abortive infection of a Shigella sonnei strain by coliphage T7.

Phage T7 adsorbed to and lysed cells of Shigella sonnei D(2) 371-48, although the average burst size was only 0.1 phage per cell (abortive infection). No mechanism of host-controlled modification was involved.

Amber mutants of bacteriophages T3 and T7 defective in phage-directed deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.

Amber mutants of the related phages T3 and T7 were isolated and tested for their ability to restore-as the wild type does-thymidine incorporation in ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated, UV-sensitive, nonpermissive host bacteria (Escherichia coli B(s-1)). Most amber mutants had this ability. However, in both T3 and T7, mutants unable to promote thymidine incorporation under these conditions were found and classified into two well-defined complementation groups: T3DO-A and T3DO-B, T7DO-A and T7DO-B.

Synthesis of an S-adenosylmethionine-cleaving enzyme in T3-infected Escherichia coli and its disturbance by co-infection with enzymatically incompetent bacteriophage.

Synthesis of an S-adenosylmethionine-cleaving enzyme evoked by infection of Escherichia coli with phage T3 was independent of the multiplicity of infection with the wild type, T3 sam(+). It was depressed, however, by mixed infection with related phages genetically incapable of directing enzyme production, such as T3 sam(-), or phage T7. The depressor effect of enzymatically incompetent genomes depended on their proportion among the input phage and not on their absolute multiplicity.

Methylation of DNA.

The methylated bases of DNA are formed by the transfer of the methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to a polynucleotide acceptor. This transfer is catalyzed by highly specific enzymes which recognize a limited number of available sites in the DNA. The mechanism for the recognition is presently unknown.