title: Host RecJ is required for growth of P22 erf bacteriophage.
abstract: Growth of bacteriophage P22 erf is known to require host RecA recombination function. We show that the RecA function is necessary but not sufficient to restore the plaque-forming ability of phage P22 erf; such mutant phage also requires host RecJ function. The residual efficiency of plaquing of P22 erf in a recJ background (0.03%) is completely abolished in recJ recB hosts (< 0.001%), suggesting that the RecBCD nuclease can provide an alternative function allowing phage growth. One tentative explanation is that circularization of P22 erf DNA mostly proceeds through the RecF pathway of recombination; however, less efficient circularization via the RecBCD pathway may also occur. In a recJ background, lysates obtained upon induction of an erf prophage show reduced yield (10%), suggesting that growth of P22 erf may require host RecJ in a step(s) other than circularization of phage DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mahan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garzón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casadesús
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017100:Bacteriophage P22 / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D004260:DNA Repair; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016296:Mutagenesis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C070765:recJ protein, Bacteria