fipB and fipC: two bacterial loci required for morphogenesis of the filamentous bacteriophage f1

Abstract

We describe the identification of two mutations in bacterial genes, designated as fipB and fipC, which resulted in temperature-sensitive morphogenesis of bacteriophage f1. These mutations mapped at separate loci but had to be present simultaneously to block f1 production at 41.5 degrees C. One mutation defined the locus fipB at 85.3 min on the Escherichia coli linkage map; the other defined the locus fipC, which mapped very close to rpsL at 73 min. Since these mutations did not appear to affect phage DNA replication, gene expression, or protein localization, they probably interfered with the its life cycle at the level of assembly. fipB mutants were partially deficient in adsorption of bacteriophage lambda, and fipB and fipC mutants leaked beta-lactamase into the medium, suggesting that the mutations affect outer-membrane structure or function.

Ff coliphages: structural and functional relationships.

“…Recently, two further E. coli loci required for phage morphogenesis have been detected and termedfipB andfipC (174). In fibB fipC double mutants assembly is temperature sensitive (blocked at 41.5°C), while viral DNA replication, gene expression, and protein localization remain unaffected.…”

Investigation of the Relation between Temperature and M13 Phage Production via ATP Expenditure

“…There is also a lack of information regarding the actual optimized conditions for M13 phage production, and even the little information on filamentous phages like M13 is relatively less than studies using lytic phages [14][15][16]. Nevertheless, of all the conditions, temperature was considered as a major factor in every study for phage production regardless of the phage type [9][10][11][12][13][17][18][19]. Particularly, 28-31 • C was suggested as the optimal temperature by most study groups, but an analysis on why the specific temperature was optimal for phage production was not disclosed [16,20].…”