INTERACTION OF THE ESCHERICHIA-COLI HOST AND PHAGE-LAMBDA - ROLE OF THE RECBCD-GAM COMPLEX

Biochemical experiments have suggested that the Gam protein from phage lambda inhibits all the catalytic activities of the RecBCD enzyme of Escherichia coli. The genetic data are at variance with these experime nts. The RecBCD-binding Gam protein has profound effects on the physio logy of phage lambda and its host. These effects cannot be explained b y the inhibitory action of Gam: the RecBCD-Gam complex apparently reta ins certain enzymatic activities. The mechanism by which its activitie s aid a substantial fraction of the phage to escape the EcoK restricti on is proposed.