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Modulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli infected with single-stranded bacteriophage ϕX174

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Summary

Synthesis of tryptophanase, D-serine deaminase and alkaline phosphatase in Escherichia coli C was repressed as the result of infection with the single-stranded DNA bacteriophage ϕX174. However, the degree of repression differed, the more catabolite-sensitive the operon was, the more severe was the repression. For the catabolite-sensitive enzymes it was found that cyclic adenosine 3′5′ monophosphate (cyclic AMP or cAMP) was unable to release or reduce the phage-induced inhibition. Experiments with amber mutants of ϕX174 revealed that A*, product of cistron A, was responsible for the inhibition. The cistron A product probably acted at the level of transcription. The possible role of A* in the observed modulation of gene expression is discussed.

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Communicated by H. Böhme

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Ghosh, A., Pal, S.K. & Poddar, R.K. Modulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli infected with single-stranded bacteriophage ϕX174. Molec. Gen. Genet. 198, 304–308 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383011

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383011

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