Isolation and preliminary characterization of Escherichia coli mutants resistant to lethal action of the bacteriophage λ p gene

Abstract

Both spontaneous and NTG-induced mutants of Escherichia coli 594 insensitive to the lethal action of λ P gene were isolated and called rpl (resistant to Plethality). These mutants were of two types, showing different phenotypes. On type I rpl mutants, λ cl^- and λv1 v3 did not plate, while λvir, λcl^-c17, λimm434, and λimm21 did; plasmid pMR45 carrying the λP gene could not complement λimm21P^- phage in type I mutants. On the other hand, the type II rpl mutants support the growth of all the above phages including λcl^-. Neither type of rpl mutation affects growth of the bacteria.