Functional requirements for bacteriophage growth: gene essentiality and expression in mycobacteriophage Giles.

ABSTRACT: Bacteriophages represent a majority of all life forms, and the vast, dynamic population with early origins is reflected in their enormous genetic diversity. A large number of bacteriophage genomes have been sequenced. They are replete with novel genes without known relatives. We know little about their functions, which genes are required for lytic growth, and how they are expressed. Furthermore, the diversity is such that even genes with required functions - such as virion proteins and repressors - cannot always be recognized. Here we describe a functional genomic dissection of mycobacteriophage Giles, in which the virion proteins are identified, genes required for lytic growth are determined, the repressor is identified, and the transcription patterns determined. We find that although all

SUBMITTER: Dedrick RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3641587 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature