Site-specific recombination of temperate Myxococcus xanthus phage Mx8: regulation of integrase activity by reversible, covalent modification.

ABSTRACT: Temperate Myxococcus xanthus phage Mx8 integrates into the attB locus of the M. xanthus genome. The phage attachment site, attP, is required in cis for integration and lies within the int (integrase) coding sequence. Site-specific integration of Mx8 alters the 3' end of int to generate the modified intX gene, which encodes a less active form of integrase with a different C terminus. The phage-encoded (Int) form of integrase promotes attP x attB recombination more efficiently than attR x attB, attL x attB, or attB x attB recombination. The attP and attB sites share a common core. Sequences flanking both sides of the attP core within the int gene are necessary for attP function. This information shows that the directionality of the integration reaction depends on arm sequences flanking both

SUBMITTER: Magrini V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC93897 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature