title: Mutations in the J-F intercistronic region of bacteriophages phi X174 and G4 affect the regulation of gene expression.
abstract: The J-F intercistronic region of the genomes of bacteriophages phi X174 and G4 is transcribed but not translated. It contains the potential for a perfectly base-paired hairpin structure, which has been proposed to act as a terminator of transcription or as a regulatory region for mRNA turnover (or both). We measured phage-specific protein synthesis in mutants with modifications of the hairpin sequence and found a relative decrease in the expression of the upstream gene D as compared to the downstream genes F, G, and H in all mutants. The mutations also appeared to affect the efficiency of the gene F ribosome-binding site. These data strongly support the regulatory significance of the J-F intercistronic region and the putative hairpin structure therein.
mesh_terms: D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009154:Mutation; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins