Identification of the N gene protein of bacteriophage lambda. [uv radiation, Escherichia coli]

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.75.5.2225· OSTI ID:6670375

Shaw, J E; Jones, B B; Pearson, M L

The N gene protein, pN, of bacteriophage lambda stimulates early gene transcription by allowing mRNA chain elongation to proceed into genes distal to transcription termination sites normally recognized by the Escherichia coli transcription termination protein rho. pN has previously eluded detection on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels because of its small size, its instability, and the difficulty of distinguising pN itself both from host proteins and from other early lambda proteins whose synthesis depends on pN action. These problems have now been overcome and we find that the major form of pN present in crude cell extracts of infected cells has an apparent molecular weight of 13,500. Lambda bio256, a deletion-substitution mutant terminating in N, codes for a shorter pN of molecular weight 12,500. A nonsense fragment of 10,500 molecular weight coded by lambda N/sub am7/ has also been identified. These conclusions are based on examination of the electrophoretic profiles of the proteins synthesized after infection of UV-irradiated E. coli by various lambda N/sup -/ temperature-sensitive, nonsense, and deletion-substitution mutants. It has also been possible to distinguish pN itself from other early lambda polypeptides by infecting ron/sup -/ cells with either lambda N/sub mar/ phage allowing pN synthesis but not pN action or lambda N/sub am/ phage defective in pN synthesis and pN action. Our results together with previous data are discussed with respect to the possible existence of multiple molecular weight forms of pN and the location of the coding sequences in the N gene region.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto
• OSTI ID: 6670375
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 75:5; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560131* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms-- Basic Studies-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BACTERIA
BACTERIOPHAGES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GENES
MICROORGANISMS
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PROTEINS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RNA
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VIRUSES