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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
Evidence of bar minigene expression and tRNA2Ile sequestration as peptidyl-tRNA2Ile during lambda bacteriophage
Norma Angélica Oviedo de Anda1, Luis Kameyama, José Manuel Galindo
1Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, CINVESTAV-IPN, San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico D.F. 07360, Mexico.
Abstract:
Lambda bacteriophage development is impaired in Escherichia coli cells defective for peptidyl (pep)-tRNA hydrolase (Pth). Single-base-pair mutations (bar(-)) that affect translatable two-codon open reading frames named bar minigenes (barI or barII) in the lambda phage genome promote the development of this phage in Pth-defective cells (rap cells). When the barI minigene is cloned and overexpressed from a plasmid, it inhibits protein synthesis and cell growth in rap cells by sequestering tRNA(2)(Ile) as pep-tRNA(2)(Ile). Either tRNA(2)(Ile) or Pth may reverse these effects. In this paper we present evidence that both barI and barII minigenes are translatable elements that sequester tRNA(2)(Ile) as pep-tRNA(2)(Ile). In addition, overexpression of the barI minigene impairs the development even of bar(-) phages in rap cells. Interestingly, tRNA or Pth may reestablish lambda phage development. These results suggest that lambda bar minigenes are expressed and tRNA(2)(Ile) is sequestered as pep-tRNA(2)(Ile) during lambda phage development.
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