Lambda transducing phage and clones carrying genes of the cysJIHDC gene cluster of Escherichia coli K12.

DNA from each of two specialized transducing lambda phage, lambda dcysJIHD and lambda cysJ, has been analysed by heteroduplex mapping. The segment of the Escherichia coli chromosome carried by lambda dcysJIHD was shown to be large, approximately 18 kb in length, and to replace a large length of lambda DNA, approximately 11 kb, which includes the genes for integration and recombination. Thus lambda dcysJIHD is a bio-type transducing phage. lambda cysJ was shown to have lost very little lambda DNA and to carry about 8 kb of bacterial DNA. Sites for several restriction endonucleases were mapped in the DNA from each phage and cloning experiments located some of the genes of the cluster in relation to the restriction map. Cysteine regulation of the cloned cysJ and cysD genes was shown as well as cysteine regulation of beta-galactosidase in some constructs. The direction of transcription of the cysD gene was established, and from physical evidence the size of the 'silent section' between the cysH and cysD genes was estimated to be at least 11 kb.