The Structural Gene for a T7 Endonuclease Essential for Phage DNA Synthesis
Abstract
Infection of Escherichia coli with bacteriophage T7 results in the appearance of an endonuclease activity capable of hydrolyzing both double-and single-stranded DNA. Treatment with chloramphenicol prevents the induction of the endonuclease. Amber mutants of phage T7 defective in gene 3 are unable to produce the enzyme after infection of the nonpermissive host, and mutants that produce a heat-labile endonuclease were found, indicating that this gene is the structural gene for the enzyme. Gene 3 mutants synthesize only a limited amount of DNA. In addition, they are defective in carrying out the degradation of host DNA, suggesting that the gene 3 endonuclease is involved in this function.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- January 1970
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.65.1.242
- Bibcode:
- 1970PNAS...65..242C