title: Influence of gene 55 on the regulation of synthesis of some early enzymes in bacteriophage T4-infected escherichia coli.
abstract: In Escherichia coli B infected with phage T4 with mutations in gene 55 the shut-off of synthesis of two early enzymes was found to be delayed 10 to 15 min as compared to wild-type T4 infection. The kinetics of early enzyme formation was very similar to that obtained after DNA-negative mutant infection. The transcription of gene 1 (one of the genes coded for early enzymes) ceased at 9 to 12 min after infection whether the gene 55 product was active or not, as determined by the time dependence of fluorouracil rescuability of DNA synthesis in cells infected with a gene 1 amber mutant. The synthesis of the major part of the early RNA species, determined by pulse-labeling with uracil-5-(3)H, was furthermore found to be regulated independently of gene 55. An explanation for the extended early enzyme synthesis in DNA-negative and gene 55 mutant infection is offered: translation of early messengers is restricted after about 12 min in wild-type infection, whereas in cells infected with DNA-negative or gene 55 mutants, i.e., the absence of late protein synthesis, early messengers direct the formation of early enzymes for a longer time.
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D003090:Coliphages / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000378:metabolism; D005796:Genes; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D009154:Mutation; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014316:Tritium; D014498:Uracil / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D014498:Uracil; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D005472:Fluorouracil