Bacteriophage λ RexA and RexB functions assist the transition from lysogeny to lytic growth.
Mol Microbiol
; 116(4): 1044-1063, 2021 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34379857
ABSTRACT
The CI and Cro repressors of bacteriophage λ create a bistable switch between lysogenic and lytic growth. In λ lysogens, CI repressor expressed from the PRM promoter blocks expression of the lytic promoters PL and PR to allow stable maintenance of the lysogenic state. When lysogens are induced, CI repressor is inactivated and Cro repressor is expressed from the lytic PR promoter. Cro repressor blocks PRM transcription and CI repressor synthesis to ensure that the lytic state proceeds. RexA and RexB proteins, like CI, are expressed from the PRM promoter in λ lysogens; RexB is also expressed from a second promoter, PLIT , embedded in rexA. Here we show that RexA binds CI repressor and assists the transition from lysogenic to lytic growth, using both intact lysogens and defective prophages with reporter genes under the control of the lytic PL and PR promoters. Once lytic growth begins, if the bistable switch does return to the immune state, RexA expression lessens the probability that it will remain there, thus stabilizing the lytic state and activation of the lytic PL and PR promoters. RexB modulates the effect of RexA and may also help establish phage DNA replication as lytic growth ensues.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Proteínas Repressoras
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Proteínas Virais
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Proteínas não Estruturais Virais
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Bacteriófago lambda
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Replicação do DNA
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Proteínas Virais Reguladoras e Acessórias
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Lisogenia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Microbiol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
MICROBIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos