1.5.4 Lysogenic cycle of Bacteriophage

1.5.4 Lysogenic cycle of Bacteriophage

Some phages begin a lysogenic cycle by incorporating their DNA into the host cell’s DNA. During this state, called lysogeny, the phage remains latent.

Upon penetration into a bacterial cell, the linear phage DNA becomes a circle. The circular DNA of the phage may recombine with and become part of the circular bacterial DNA. The inserted phage DNA is called a prophage. Every time the host cell replicates the bacterial chromosome, the prophage DNA also gets replicated. The prophage remains latent within the progeny cells. Under some circumstances, or due to the action of UV light or certain chemicals excision of phage DNA occurs which initiates the lytic cycle.

Lysogenic cycle of Bacteriophage

Last modified: Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 1:25 PM