Summary
The λ ral function modulates the restriction and modification activities of the Escherichia coli K12 and B restriction enzymes (Zabeau et al., 1980). In order to further analyse this function, ral deficient mutants have been isolated, using a method which exploits the property of the strong mutagen N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (N.G.) to induce multiple closely linked mutations. Hence, mutagenized phages carrying mutations in one locus were frequently found to contain additional mutations in adjacent loci. This very efficient mutagenesis procedure enable us to isolate 27 independent Ral deficient mutants. Seven mutants were found to effect the ral gene directly and were located between the genes N and cIII. Detailed mapping of two of these mutants showed that the λ ral gene is located at position 70.6–70.9% on the physical map. The isolation and characterization of these mutants further supports the conclusion that ral is a gene different from the N gene, and demonstrates that the ral gene product is responsible for both counteracting restriction and enhancing modification.
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Debrouwere, L., Zabeau, M., Van Montagu, M. et al. The ral gene of phage λ. Molec. Gen. Genet. 179, 75–80 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268448
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268448