DNA structures required for phi X174 A-protein-directed initiation and termination of DNA replication.

Abstract

The A gene of icosahedral single-stranded circular (SSc) DNA bacteriophages encodes a multifunctional enzyme (Eisenberg et al. 1977) involved in several important aspects of phage DNA replication, including initiation and termination of leading-strand DNA synthesis. These activities of the gene-A protein are directed toward specific DNA structures found at the origin of phage leading-strand DNA replication. We are attempting to define the exact DNA sequences required to support the various gene-A-protein activities expressed during in vitro synthesis of SSc progeny DNA molecules from duplex templates (RF—SSc DNA replication).