The gol site: A Cis-acting bacteriophage T4 regulatory region that can affect expression of all the T4 late genes

Abstract

We have shown that mutations in the Escherichia coli lit gene can prevent the expression of the late genes of bacteriophage T4 at temperatures below 34 °C. The defect in late gene expression occurs, at least partially, at the level of transcription, and neither DNA replication nor DNA encapsidation into phage heads is significantly affected. Rare T4 “ gol” mutations overcome the defect in late transcription. Refined mapping experiments place gol mutations within gene 23, but an altered gene 23 protein is not responsible for the phenotype. Rather, gol mutations seem to alter a cis-acting site in T4 DNA, the wild-type form of which interferes with late transcription in lit − hosts.