TAIL SHEATH AND TAIL TUBE GENES OF THE TEMPERATE COLIPHAGE-186

The nucleotide sequence of the phage 186 genome from 46.3-52.5% was de termined and was found to contain two open reading frames highly simil ar to the tail sheath gene FI and tail tube gene FII of phage P2 The r eading frames were identified as genes J and I by marker rescue experi ments. A late promoter p(J) was identified by galK reporter and primer extension studies. Northern analysis suggested that the p(J) transcri pt predominantly terminated immediately after gene I, although some tr anscripts could extend to the terminator t(B) at 67.3%. (C) 1995 Acade mic Press, Inc.