Plasmid-controlled Variation in the Content of Methylated Bases in Bacteriophage Lambda Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Overview

Journal J Virol

Publisher American Society for Microbiology

Date 1972 Sep 1

PMID 4561202

Citations 11

Authors

S Hattman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The N(6)-methyladenine (MeAde) and 5-methylcytosine (MeC) contents in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of bacteriophage lambda has been analyzed as a function of host specificity. The following facts have emerged: (i) lambda grown on strains harboring the P1 prophage contain ca. 70 more MeAde residues/DNA molecule than lambda grown either in the P1-sensitive parent, or in a P1 immune-defective lysogen which does not confer P1 modification; (ii) lambda grown on strains harboring the N-3 drug-resistance factor contain ca. 60 more MeC residues/DNA molecule than lambda grown on the parental strain lacking the factor; (iii) lambda grown in Escherichia coli B strains is devoid of MeC, whereas lambda grown in a B (N-3) host contains a high level of MeC; (iv) the MeAde content in lambda DNA is not affected by the N-3 factor. These results suggest that P1 controls an adenine-specific DNA methylase, and that the N-3 plasmid controls a cytosine-specific DNA methylase. The N-3 factor has been observed previously to direct cytosine-specific methylation of phage P22 DNA and E. coli B DNA in vivo; in vitro studies presented here demonstrate this activity.

Citing Articles

Novel non-specific DNA adenine methyltransferases.

Drozdz M, Piekarowicz A, Bujnicki J, Radlinska M Nucleic Acids Res. 2011; 40(5):2119-30.

PMID: 22102579 PMC: 3299994. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1039.

DNA methylase induced by bacteriophage phiX174.

Razin A Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1973; 70(12):3773-5.

PMID: 4590171 PMC: 427325. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.70.12.3773.

Mutants of the N-3 R-factor conditionally defective in hspII modification and deoxyribonucleic acid-cytosine methylase activity.

Schlagman S, Hattman S J Bacteriol. 1974; 120(1):234-9.

PMID: 4371329 PMC: 245755. DOI: 10.1128/jb.120.1.234-239.1974.

Isolation of a mutant of Escherichia coli defective in cytosine-specific deoxyribonucleic acid methylase activity and in partial protection of bacteriophage lambda against restriction by cells containing the N-3 drug-resistance factor.

Hattman S, Schlagman S, Cousens L J Bacteriol. 1973; 115(3):1103-7.

PMID: 4353870 PMC: 246359. DOI: 10.1128/jb.115.3.1103-1107.1973.

Deoxyribonucleic acid-cytosine methylation by host- and plasmid-controlled enzymes.

May M, Hattaman S J Bacteriol. 1975; 122(1):129-38.

PMID: 1091619 PMC: 235649. DOI: 10.1128/jb.122.1.129-138.1975.

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