Mechanism of inhibition of bacteriophage T7 DNA synthesis in Escherichia coli B cells infected by alkylated bacteriophage T7.
Quantitative analysis of DNA replication, in E. coli B cells infected by methyl methanesulfonate-treated bacteriophage T7, showed that production of phage DNA was delayed and decreased. The cause of the delay appeared to be a delay in host-DNA breakdown, the process which provides nucleotides for phage-DNA synthesis. In addition, reutilisation of host-derived nucleotides was impaired. These observations can be accounted for by a model in which methyl groups on phage DNA slow down DNA injection and also reduce the replicational template activity of the DNA once it has entered the cell. Repair of alkylated phage DNA may be required not only for replication but also for normal injection of DNA.
D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013604:T-Phages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate