Effect of bacteriophage phi X174 infection on the conformation of Escherichia coli DNA.
The cistron A proteins of bacteriophage phi X174 inhibit the synthesis of beta-galactosidase of host Escherichia coli. A drastic reduction in the rate of transcription of the lac gene is observed in infected cells. This loss in the efficiency of transcription is due to conformational changes in the host DNA. Probably the host DNA is nicked at a few sites along its length and some of its negative superhelical twists are released.
D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D004269:DNA, Bacterial