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Characterization of Plys-proximal morphogenetic genes of transposable bacteriophage Mu

I R Siboo1, F Sieder, K Kumar

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. irsiboo@itsa.ucsf.edu

Archives of Virology
|January 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophage Mu DNA maturation and packaging are crucial for producing new viruses. This study identifies genes D and E as key components of the Mu DNA maturation enzyme, essential for phage assembly.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Bacteriophage Genetics

Background:

  • The bacteriophage Mu lytic cycle requires DNA maturation and packaging for progeny virion production.
  • While late gene transcription in bacteriophage Mu is understood, the phage morphogenetic process remains less clear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phage morphogenetic process by analyzing a specific DNA region.
  • To identify and characterize genes involved in bacteriophage Mu DNA maturation and packaging.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning and sequencing of a 4.3-kb bacteriophage Mu DNA region.
  • DNA sequence analysis of amber mutations in genes D and E.
  • Cloning and expression of the DNA region to produce cell-free protein extracts.

Main Results:

  • Seven potential open reading frames were identified in the sequenced region.
  • Genes D and E were identified as the sixth and seventh open reading frames, respectively.
  • Cell-free extracts recognized the phage packaging sequence (pac); E protein showed homology to known DNA maturation enzymes.

Conclusions:

  • Genes D and E encode subunits of the bacteriophage Mu DNA maturation enzyme.
  • This finding contributes to understanding bacteriophage Mu morphogenesis and DNA packaging.

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