Gene K of bacteriophage phi X174 codes for a protein which affects the burst size of phage production.
Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to produce a T----A change at nucleotide 70 of phi X174 genome. This generates an am codon, TAG, in the gene K reading frame without affecting the amino acid, leucine, encoded by the overlapping gene A. The gene K mutant produces small plaques on su- hosts. It has an identical latent period, but a more reduced burst size than that of the wild-type phi X174. The reduced burst size in the gene K mutant suggests that the gene K protein, although not essential, has a role in increasing infectivity by increasing the burst size three- to sixfold.
Gillam
S
S
Atkinson
T
T
Markham
A
A
Smith
M
M
D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009154:Mutation; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D014764:Viral Proteins