Microbiology Procedure

Index >> Bacteriophages - Part Two >> Maturation of Lambda Phage

Maturation of Lambda Phage

	Maturation of Lambda Phage - During the maturation of the phage particles the head and tail are assembled independently. Genes nu3, A. W, B, C, nu3, D, E, and F code for DNA maturation and phage head proteins. Genes Z, U, V, G, T, H, 208, M, L, K, 1 and J code for phage tail proteins. The first stage in head assembly is the formation of prohead, which consists or a protein core surrounded by a shell.
The next stage is prohead II which is an empty particle. DNA is now packaged into the particle, The lambda genome is cut from the concatemer during the insertion of the DNA into the protein capsid. The DNA is cut at the cos site to generate right and left cohesive ends, of which the former is inserted into the head shell.
Insertion continoues till the next cos site. Partially full particles with an expanded head art called grizzled particles because their centres appear grizzled due to the presence of DNA. When the particles become packed with the full complement of DNA, they are known as black particles, The head is now stabilized for the attachment of the tail. The mature particle is formed by the attachment of the head and tail.

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