Activation of Prophage P4 by the P2 Cox Protein and the Sites of Action of the Cox Protein on the Two Phage Genomes

Phage P2 induces the unrelated prophage P4. In this paper we show that this is due to the activation of the P4 late promoter Pllby the P2 Cox protein. This is in contrast to the effects of Cox on P2, for which it is known from previous work that it acts as a repressor of the promoter Pc, which is re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1989-06, Vol.86 (11), p.3973-3977
Main Authors: Saha, Shamol, Haggård-Ljungquist, Elisabeth, Nordström, Kurt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteriophage P2
Bacteriophages
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Coliphages - genetics
Coliphages - growth & development
Coliphages - physiology
Deoxyribonuclease I
DNA
Escherichia coli - genetics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gels
Genes
Genes, Viral
Genetics
Memory interference
Microbiology
Molecular Sequence Data
Plasmids
Promoter regions
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Prophages
Repressor Proteins - physiology
Transactivation
Transcription Factors - physiology
Virology
Virus Activation
Virus Replication
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Summary:Phage P2 induces the unrelated prophage P4. In this paper we show that this is due to the activation of the P4 late promoter Pllby the P2 Cox protein. This is in contrast to the effects of Cox on P2, for which it is known from previous work that it acts as a repressor of the promoter Pc, which is responsible for expression of the immunity repressor C. The activator role of Cox was revealed by its effect on replication of P4 DNA and on the formation of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase when a promoterless cat gene was inserted downstream of the Pllpromoter. DNase I protection studies revealed that the Cox protein binds to the repressor promoter Pcof phage P2 and to the promoter Pllof phage P4. In the latter case the Cox protein binds upstream of the -35 region, in analogy to several other activators of promoters. A weak binding was found in the promoters Peof phage P2 and Pleof phage P4. The Cox protein is a case of viral transactivation of the replication genes of one phage by a control protein of the other. However, the effects of the Cox protein are totally different in the two phages, repressive in one case and activating in the other.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.86.11.3973