Bacteriophage crosstalk: coordination of prophage induction by trans-acting antirepressors.

ABSTRACT: Many species of bacteria harbor multiple prophages in their genomes. Prophages often carry genes that confer a selective advantage to the bacterium, typically during host colonization. Prophages can convert to infectious viruses through a process known as induction, which is relevant to the spread of bacterial virulence genes. The paradigm of prophage induction, as set by the phage Lambda model, sees the process initiated by the RecA-stimulated self-proteolysis of the phage repressor. Here we show that a large family of lambdoid prophages found in Salmonella genomes employs an alternative induction strategy. The repressors of these phages are not cleaved upon induction; rather, they are inactivated by the binding of small antirepressor proteins. Formation of the complex causes the represso

SUBMITTER: Lemire S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3121763 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature