Abstract
A key event in the lifecycle of a temperate bacteriophage is the choice between lysis and lysogeny upon infection of a susceptible host cell. In a recent paper, we showed that a prolonged period exists after the decision to lysogenize, during which bacteriophage λ can abandon the initial decision, and instead develop lytically, as a response to the accumulation of the late lytic regulatory protein Q. Here, we present evidence that expression of Q does not induce replication of λ DNA, suggesting that the DNA to be packaged into the resulting phage progeny was already present at the time of the initial decision to lysogenize. We summarize our findings in a working model of the key determinants of the duration of the post-decision period during which it is possible for the infected cell to switch from the lysogeny decision to successful lytic development.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Bacteriophage |
| Vol/bind | 5 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| Sider (fra-til) | e1012930 |
| ISSN | 2159-7073 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 16 okt. 2015 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |