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Related Experiment Videos

Morphopoietic switch mutations of bacteriophage P2.

E W Six1, M G Sunshine, J Williams

  • 1Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.

Virology
|May 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophage P4 controls head size using its sid gene, which relies on bacteriophage P2's responsiveness. This study identifies mutations in P2's major capsid protein (gene N) that impair this interaction, revealing P2 gene N as a key target of P4's Sid function.

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Bacteriophage P4 requires bacteriophage P2 as a helper for its replication.
  • Head size determination in P4 is a complex process involving P4's sid gene and P2's "sid responsiveness."

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic basis of bacteriophage P2's "sid responsiveness" to P4's sid gene function.
  • To identify mutations in bacteriophage P2 that alter its response to P4's size-directing gene.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage P2 mutants (P2 sir) with impaired response to P4's sid function.
  • Genetic mapping of mutations to bacteriophage P2 genes.
  • DNA sequencing of bacteriophage P2 gene N to identify specific mutations.

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Main Results:

  • Nine independent P2 sir mutants were obtained.
  • Eight mutations were mapped to bacteriophage P2 gene N, encoding the major capsid protein.
  • Mutations were located within a specific 38-codon segment of gene N, affecting four codons, and included missense and deletion mutations.

Conclusions:

  • The major capsid protein of bacteriophage P2 (encoded by gene N) is the primary target of bacteriophage P4's Sid gene function.
  • Specific mutations in P2 gene N directly impact P4's size-directing mechanism.
  • Understanding this interaction provides insight into phage assembly and host-phage genetic regulation.