Regulation of expression of the colicin gene of I1 group plasmid TP110

Abstract

The control of expression of the colicin Ib gene of the I1 group plasmid TP110 has been investigated. The colicin promoter was fused to the structural gene for β-galactosidase, using the Mu d(Ap(r) lac) phage, and the plasmid carrying this fusion was introduced into a variety of bacterial strains defective in genes involved in the 'SOS' response. Colicin Ib belongs to that group of genes directly controlled by the repressor produced by the lexA gene, and expression was inducible by DNA-damaging agents. Mutations in uvrA, -B, and -C reduced the efficiency of induction by mitomycin C, as did mutations in recB. Mutations in recA and recF effectively prevented induction by mitomycin C, whereas mutations in lexA had contrasting effects, depending upon their effect on the properties of lexA protein. The spr-51 mutation (which inactivates lexA protein) led to constitutive expression, whereas the lexA3 mutation (which makes lexA protein refractory to cleavage by recA protein) completely inhibited inducible expression. In addition to lexA control, a TP110-coded function was identified which appeared able to inhibit colicin expression when the gene responsible was present in high copy number.