Transcript map of the temperate Lactobacillus gasseri bacteriophage ϕadh

Abstract

Temporal transcription of phage ϕadh was analysed during lytic reproduction. Based on Northern hybridizations the phage genome was divided into regions of early, middle and late transcription. Eight groups of overlapping transcripts, probably originating from common precursors, were distinguished. Early transcription of a 10·9 kb region adjacent to the lytic/lysogenic switch started within the first 10 min of infection and produced three groups of mRNAs mostly related to DNA replication. Four middle transcripts were observed 30 min after infection, corresponding to an 8·5 kb genomic region, which started at the replication origin (ori) and encompassed a DNA packaging function and the cos site. Three groups of late transcripts were first observed 50 min after infection, corresponding to a 21·1 kb region between the middle region and the attachment site (attP), encoding functions for capsid morphogenesis and host cell lysis. A fourth group of late-appearing mRNAs was divergently transcribed from the 3·2 kb section between attP and the lytic/lysogenic switch, including the repressor and integrase genes. Except for one set of early mRNAs, all the transcripts persisted until the end of the reproduction cycle. Two confirmed and two predicted promoters were assigned to transcript 5′ ends in the early region.