New mutations in the pRM promoter of bacteriophage lambda

A pRM-cI-lacZ fusion inserted into the b2 region of bacteriophage lambda imm21 was used to isolate mutations in the lambda pRM promoter. Among the mutations causing defects in synthesis of both repressor (cI gene product) and beta-galactosidase, new promoter mutations were identified at positions -11 and -32 relative to the cI transcription start point. Both mutations are changes in conserved (consensus) nucleotides in pRM, but the mutation at -11, which alters a more highly conserved nucleotide, has a somewhat greater effect on promoter function in vitro than does the mutation at -32. We also isolated a mutation at -69 in the repressor-binding site OR1, which presumably prevents activation of pRM by repressor.