Resistance of bacteriophage PBS2 infection to rifampicin, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis

Abstract

The induction of viral enzymes, the synthesis of DNA, and the production of progeny phage during infection of by bacteriophage PBS2 are all unaffected by the presence of rifampicin. Rifampicin, rifamycin SV, streptovaricin, and streptolydigin (all of which inhibit . RNA synthesis by binding to DNA-dependent RNA polymerase) have no effect on PBS2 infection. However, actinomycin D and Lucanthone (which inhibit DNA-dependent RNA synthesis by binding to DNA) both prevent PBS2 replication. Therefore, PBS2 phage may utilize a rifampicin-resistant RNA polymerase to transcribe its uracil-containing DNA during phage infection.