Changes in host cell phospholipid composition of φX174 gene E product |
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Authors: | W. Lubitz A.P. Pugsley |
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Affiliation: | Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Munich, Maria Ward Str. 1a, D-8000 Munich 19, F.R.G.;Unitéde Génétique Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, 25, Rue du Dr. Roux, Paris 75724, France |
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Abstract: | Abstract Expression of bacteriophage φX174 gene E from plasmid pUH51 induced lysis of Escherichia coli . Before onset of bacterial lysis, cellular phospholipase activity was induced due to the presence of gene E product within the cells. By comparison of the lytic behaviour of phospholipase-negative E. coli strains with the corresponding wild-type strain it was found that neither the action of detergent-resistant phospholipase A nor of detergent-sensitive phospholipase were essential for the lysis-inducing properties of the gene E product. It was concluded that induction of phospholipases after expression of the φX174 gene E was a consequence of membrane perturbation caused by the integration of the gene E product into the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli . |
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Keywords: | Cloned bacteriophage φX174 lysis gene bacterial autolysis membrane perturbation |
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