Involvement of the htpR gene product of Escherichia coli in phage λ development

Abstract

Growth of phage lambda at high temperature requires a functional htpR host gene. The stages of the phage growth cycle shown to be dependent on htpR gene function include prophage excision and particle morphogenesis. Two types of morphogenetic abnormalities have been detected. One is a defect in phage tail assembly that results from a deficiency in tail fibers even though gpJ is produced. The severity of this defect is phage-strain specific. The second morphogenetic defect is less clearly defined, but results in formation of aberrant phage head structures. These abnormalities in lambda reproduction are presumed to be caused by the absence in htpR mutant host cells at high temperature of one or more of the heat-shock proteins of Escherichia coli whose synthesis is known to be regulated by the htpR gene.