INDUCTION THRESHOLD OF THE Q(-) MUTANT OF BACTERIOPHAGE-LAMBDA IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI

Temperature induction of bacteriophage lambda in Escherichia coli depe nds on bacterial population density. The lowest rate of viability loss at the temperature threshold results in maximal gene expression of la mbda. lambda-Infection causes bacterial cells to lose cell viability a nd thus decrease temperature induction efficiency. In addition, shifti ng-up in temperature increases the probability of progeny lambda; thus , the mortality of bacterial hosts increases and the expression of rec ombinant proteins by naked lambda significantly decrease.