Structure and function of mutants in the P gene of bacteriophage λ leading to the π phenotype

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Abstract
The location of 14 independently isolated spontaneous π A and π B point mutants in the λ P gene and their base exchanges were determined. It was found that the π B mutation is one unique type mapping close to other π A mutants. The number of possible π A mutation sites could be estimated. The mutation sites are distributed asymmetrically in the gene. The N-terminal half of the protein is unchanged. It is assumed to be required for the interaction with the λ O protein. The P protein can be changed by substitution of a limited number of amino acids at the C-terminus. All functional proteins of this type have π character. π proteins do not appear to have altered intracellular levels or stabilities as compared to wild-type P protein. The plating characteristics of our mutants on two groP- mutants located in the dnaJ and dnaK genes, respectively, are strikingly different.