Structure and function of DNA cohesive ends.

Abstract

Since the discovery of cohesive ends on the DNA of phage lambda by Hershey, Burgi, and Ingraham in 1963, a number of other types of DNA molecules have been shown to possess cohesive ends. They are summarized in Table 1. There are as yet no exceptions to the rule that temperate phages whose DNA molecules have a nonpermuted base sequence possess cohesive ends. Cohesive ends permit a linear DNA molecule packaged inside the head of a phage particle to become circular inside the host cell. Thus, the presence of cohesive ends on the DNA molecules of temperate phages fits into the scheme for recombination between a circular phage DNA and the host chromosome leading to insertion of the phage DNA into the chromosome as proposed by Campbell (1962). However, circular DNA molecules and cohesive ends must serve other purposes because at least two virulent phages, χ and N1, and yeast...