Identification of a second Escherichia coli groE gene whose product is necessary for bacteriophage morphogenesis.

Abstract

Previous work has uncovered the existence of an E. coli locus, groE, that is essential for bacterial growth, .lambda. phage and T4 phage head morphogenesis and T5 phage tail assembly. Genetic and biochemical analyses of .lambda. groE+ transducing phages and their deletion and point mutant derivatives show that the groE locus consists of 2 closely linked genes. The groE gene, groEL, encodes the synthesis of a 65,000 MW polypeptide; the 2nd, groES, codes for the synthesis of a 15,000 MW polypeptide. About half of the groE- bacterial isolates fall into the groES complementation group. GroE mutations in either gene cause similar phenotypes, with respect to .lambda. phage head morphogenesis and bacterial growth at nonpermissive temperatures.