Expression of coliphage T7 in aging anucleate minicells of Escherichia coli

Anucleate minicells produced by a mutated strain of Escherichia coli remain metabolically active for up to 48 h at 37 degrees C. Minicells of increasing age have been infected with the coliphage T7. Infection results in the onset of transcription and translation producing T7 encoded polypeptides. Quantitative and qualitative changes in T7 gene expression result from infection of increasingly old minicells. There is no detectable increase in the frequency of error occurrence in the synthesis of T7 polypeptides in infected old minicells as compared to infected young minicells.