title: Double-chain-cut sites are recombination hotspots in the Red pathway of phage lambda.
abstract: The Red recombination pathway of phage lambda is shown to target recombination to double-chain ends of DNA. A double-chain cut, delivered in vivo to only one of two parents participating in a lambda lytic cross by a type II restriction endonuclease, increases the proportion of crossing over in the interval containing the cut compared with other intervals. The stimulating effect of a cut is evident whether replication is inhibited or permitted. Cut stimulation can move away from the initial cut-site, presumably by double-chain degradation. Movement of the stimulating effect of a cut is dependent on the Escherichia coli gene recA when the cross is carried out under conditions that inhibit phage replication. When replication is permitted, all aspects of cut-stimulated recombination are independent of recA. Evidence is presented to show that the reaction that is stimulated by cutting is often non-reciprocal at the molecular level.
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics*; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010957:Plasmids; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral