Abstract
Satellite virus P4 is a defective bacteriophage which requires all 17 late morphogenic gene products of its P2 coliphage helper for normal lytic development. We demonstrate here that during this helper-satellite virus interaction the satellite P4 blocks a late step in the lytic development of the P2 helper. During co-infection, replication and processing of helper and satellite DNAs proceed normally. However, only small satellite size capsids are assembled. We have also determined that a P4 mutant which does not interfere is unable to direct the production of small capsids. In addition, another satellite mutant which has lost the ability to direct the condensation of small capsids was found not to interfere. Hence, P4 interferes with the lytic development of its helper by directing the assembly of capsids too small to package the P2 genome.
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