Induction of sigma factor synthesis in Escherichia coli by the N gene product of bacteriophage lambda

Abstract

Thermoinduction of cells of E. coli carrying prophage lambdacI857 within the bfe gene brings about not only "escape synthesis" of core subunits of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNA nucleotidyltransferase, nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2-7-7-6), but also a striking stimulation of sigma factor synthesis. The latter phenomenon, termed sigma induction, is generally observed after lambda phage infection or prophage induction. A series of experiments with various bacterial and phage strains led us to conclude that the N gene product of lambda is directly involved to the sigma induction. These and other results obtained with mutants defective in transcription termination factor rho suggest the involvement of a rho-sensitive site in the control of sigma gene expression in E. coli.