A third defective lambdoid prophage of Escherichia coli K12 defined by the lambda derivative, lambdaqin111.

We describe the isolation and characterization of a new Q-independent substitution mutant of lambda, lambdaqin111, which differs from other characterized Q-independent lambda phages. This mutant defines a new lambda-like prophage in the bacterial chromosome, as seen by homologous recombination between lambdaqin111 and the host DNA and by DNA/DNA hybridization methods. Genetic and electron microscopy data show that this new prophage carries, at least, genes analogous to Q-S-R of lambda and also a cos site functionally identical to lambda cos. It is located near 34 min on the Escherichia coli K12 map, i.e. in the same region but at a different site from the defective Rac prophage.