Rex-dependent exclusion of lambdoid phages. III. Physiology of the abortive infection

Rex-dependent exclusion of Ren^? and Red^? lambdoid phages resembles the exclusion of T4rII- phages in that phage adsorption and DNA injection are unaffected, whereas protein and DNA syntheses are inhibited after a period of normal synthesis. As in exclusion of T4rII^?, exclusion of λ Rem^? phages requires the presence of monovalent ions. A novel observation in this exclusion system is that the excluded superinfecting phage must replicate in order to provoke the turn off of phage early protein synthesis that is seen during the abortive infection. The similarities between Rex-dependent exclusion and other superinfection systems and the possible relationship between exclusion and membrane function are discussed.