The role of bacteriophage T7 gene 2 protein in DNA replication.
The in vivo function of the gene 2 protein of bacteriophage T7 has been examined. The gene 2 protein appears to modulate the activity of the gene 3 endonuclease in order to prevent the premature degradation of any newly-formed DNA concatemers. This modulation is not however a direct interacton between the two proteins. In single-burst experiments rifamycin can substitute for the gene 2 protein, allowing formation of fast-sedimenting replicative DNA intermediates and progeny phage production. This suggests that the sole function of the gene 2 protein is inhibition of the host RNA polymerase and that the latter enzyme directs or promotes the endonucleolytic action of the gene 3 protein.
D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013604:T-Phages / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012294:Rifamycins; D014764:Viral Proteins