Formation and stability of the bacteriophage λ replication complexes in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli

Bacteriophage lambda replication complex, containing the phage-encoded O initiator protein protected from proteases by other elements of this complex, is a stable structure that can be inherited by one of the two daughter lambda DNA copies after a replication round in Escherichia coli. In normal growth conditions in bacteria bearing a plasmid derived from bacteriophage lambda, such a complex may be stable for many cell generations. However, it was found that this stable structure is disassembled under certain conditions, namely, after heat shock. Therefore, we asked whether other environmental stresses may cause disassembly of the lambda replication complex. We found that UV irradiation of the host cells prevented formation of the stable lambda replication complex (though not preventing phage replication), while the same UV doses did not affect the stability of the replication complex assembled prior to the irradiation. These results indicate that the stable lambda replication complex, although sensitive to heat shock, is resistant to some other environmental stresses and that formation of at least two types of lambda replication complexes is possible. Both stable and unstable lambda replication complexes are functional because replication of lambda DNA under conditions preventing formation of the stable complex proceeds efficiently.