Ternary complex formation on leaderless phage mRNA

Abstract

The phage Lambda PRM promoter-derived cI mRNA and phage P2 gene V mRNA are transcribed beginning with the A residue of the AUG start codon. Using lacZ fusion analysis we have assessed the effects of alterations in the immediate downstream coding region on the translational efficiency of these mRNAs. Mutations, including deletions of the putative downstream box of either cI or gene V mRNAs, showed no significant reduction in expression of the different lacZ fusions. Primer extension inhibition analysis suggests a role of ribosomal protein S1 in cI mRNA recognition.