BACTERIOPHAGE-P4 DNA-REPLICATION

Replication of satellite phage P4 of Escherichia call is dependent on three phage-encoded elements: the origin (ori), a cis replication element (crr), and the product of the alpha gene, gp alpha. In vitro P4 replication is origin-specific resulting in monomeric form I DNA. DNA synthesis requires chromosomally encoded proteins DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, SSB, DNA gyrase and probably topoisomerase I; host-encoded initiation and priming functions are dispensable. The alpha protein is multifunctional in P4 replication, combining three activities in a single polypeptide chain. First, the protein complexes specifically with type I repeats at ori and err. Second, the helicase activity associated with gp alpha unwinds DNA with 3' --> 5' polarity. Third, the primase activity results in the synthesis of RNA primers. Defined sequence motifs in gp alpha correlate with the helicase and primase activities which are arranged in distinct, separable domains. Primase activity is associated with the N-terminal half of the protein, ori/crr binding with the C-terminal portion. A model for the initiation mechanism of P4 replication which resembles that of mammalian simian virus 40 is discussed.