MU-GEM2TS DNA INTEGRATION IS NOT NECESSARY FOR INDUCTION OF SYNCHRONYOF CELL-DIVISION IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI K12

The gem2ts mutant of bacteriophage Mu induced synchrony of cell divisi on on bacteria surviving infection. Induction of synchronous growth co uld also be observed as a response to the entire infected bacterial po pulation, as in the case of infection of hic mutants, a peculiar class of gyrB alleles. After Mu wild-type or Mu gem2ts infection of hic mut ants, there was a lack of viral DNA integration and replication, while phage gene expression (including that of A gene, coding for the trans posase) seemed to be quite normal. These data indicate that the mechan ism of bacterial synchronization induced by Mu gem2ts does not require integration nor replication of the phage DNA.