A new gene of Escherichia coli K-12 whose product participates in T4 bacteriophage late gene expression: interaction of lit with the T4-induced polynucleotide 5'-kinase 3'-phosphatase.

We isolated five Escherichia coli mutants deficient in their ability to support the late (replication-coupled) gene expression of T4 bacteriophage at 30 degrees C. These mutants, which we call Lit mutants, define at least one novel gene at 25 min on the E. coli map. They were selected in an attempt to obtain mutants which restrict the growth of T4 mutants deficient in polynucleotide 5'-kinase 3'-phosphatase but not that of wild-type T4 at 37 degrees C. Some of the mutants do have these phenotypes under some conditions. Studies of the block in T4 development in some of the E. coli mutants suggest that Lit mutants are affected in a gene product involved in the metabolism of deoxyribonucleic acid nicks or single-strand gaps. None of the Lit mutants is deficient in the major, bacterial, 3'-phosphatase activity in crude extracts.