title: DNA sequence, structure and gene expression of mycobacteriophage L5: a phage system for mycobacterial genetics.
abstract: Genetic studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacterial pathogens have suffered from the lack of a sophisticated genetic system. To address this issue we have developed a viral system through a detailed characterization of mycobacteriophage L5, a temperate phage that infects both fast- and slow-growing mycobacteria. We describe here the complete DNA sequence of the L5 genome and initial characterization of L5 virion structure and gene expression. In addition to providing a genetic 'tool-box' for the mycobacteria we find that L5 offers a new paradigm for dsDNA phages, being phenotypically temperate but employing genetic strategies for phage growth usually associated with lytic bacteriophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hatfull
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sarkis
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000145:classification; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009159:Mycobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D009160:Mycobacteriophages / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins