DNA CLONING VECTOR TG1, DERIVATIVES, PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES

Disclosed is the novel bacteriophage TG1, TG1 derivatives, and the corresponding genome or nucleic acid components of such bacteriophages and derivatives of such genome, which are useful as DNA cloning vectors into organisms, such as bacteria, for example, Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 8057; portions of such phage genome are additionally useful as adjuncts in recombinant DNA cloning procedures, for example: 1.) to permit the maintenance of cloned DNA in the host, either in an integrated state or as an autonomous element; 2.) to serve as promoters for increasing expression of endogenous or foreign genes wherein said promoters are ligated to such genes or otherwise serve as promoters; and 3.) to serve as regulatory elements for achieving control over endogenous and foreign gene expression; as cloning vectors, TG1, its deletion mutants, and other derivatives serve for the amplification and transfer of DNA sequences (genes) coding for useful functions, for example, genes necessary for the production of the antibiotic thienamycin, or genes necessary for the production of hepatitis B antigen, and of DNA sequences which are useful per se, for example, distinct plasmid vectors which are inherently useful; such modified cloning vectors (hybrid DNA molecules comprising the TG1 genome or portions thereof and foreign DNA sequence) are introduced into the recipient organism by infection, transfection or transformation; wherein the hybrid DNA functions in an integrated mode, in a lytic (vegetative phase) mode and/or in a plasmid mode. Also disclosed are microorganisms comprising TG1 prophage and deletion and hybrid (chimeric) derivatives thereof; and microorganisms comprising hybrid (chimeric) phage-plasmids and derivatives thereof.