Control of gene function in bacteriophage T4. IV. Post-transcriptional shutoff of expression of early genes.

The selective and sequential shutoff of synthesis of early T4 proteins in bacteria infected with DNA-negative mutants is under the active control of one or more T4-induced proteins. Selective shutoff of synthesis of early T4 proteins is accompanied by a selective degradation of distinct species of T4 mRNA. We present circumstantial evidence that selective degradation of mRNA is the cause, and not the consequence, of selective termination of expression of early T4 genes. The mutation sp62 inactivates the shutoff mechanism and prevents the selective degradation of distinct species of T4 mRNA.