Characterization of T4 mutants that partially suppress the inability of T4rII to grow in lambda lysogens

Abstract

In the course of isolating viable T4 deletions that affect plaque morphology two closely linked point mutants, sip1 and sip2, were obtained. They map between genes t and 52, cause a reduction in plaque size and burst size, and partially suppress the lethality of rII mutants for growth in lambda lysogens. These characteristics demonstrate that sip1 and sip2 are similar to mutants previously reported by Freedman and Brenner (1972). In addition, it has been shown that sip1 and sip2 are similar to the mutant farP85, which affects the regulation of a number of early genes. Sip suppression of rII mutants can be demonstrated in one step growth experiments, even when both rII genes are completely deleted. This indicates that sip mutants do not simply reduce the level of rII gene products required for growth in a lambda lysogen. Instead, they alter the growth cycle so as to partially circumvent the need for any rII products. Mutations at two other sites, designated L1 and L2, reverse the poor phage growth caused by sip and, in the one case tested, reverse the rII suppressing ability of sip.