Escherichia coli dnaG gene product is required for a normal rate of phage T4 DNA synthesis

Abstract

An Escherichia coli dnaG temperature-sensitive ( ts) mutant, which produces a defective RNA primase, does not permit normal bacteriophage T4 growth and a normal rate of DNA synthesis. By contrast an E. coli dnaC ts mutant, a revertant of the dnaG ts mutant, and wild type allow a normal rate of phage T4 DNA synthesis. Evidence is presented that the phage gene 61 RNA primase and the host dnaG primase act independently of each other. We speculate that the host dnaG primase may be utilized for initiation of phage T4 DNA synthesis at replicative origins.