Thioredoxin is required for filamentous phage assembly.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Sequence comparisons show that the fip gene product of Escherichia coli, which is required for filamentous phage assembly, is thioredoxin. Thioredoxin serves as a cofactor for reductive processes in many cell types and is a constituent of phage T7 DNA polymerase. The fip-1 mutation makes filamentous phage and T7 growth temperature sensitive in cells that carry it. The lesion lies within a highly conserved thioredoxin active site. Thioredoxin reductase (NADPH), as well as thioredoxin, is required for efficient filamentous phage production. Mutant phages defective in phage gene 1 are particularly sensitive to perturbations in the fip-thioredoxin reductase, thioredoxin and the gene 1 protein interact to drive an engine for filamentous phage assembly.