Analysis in vivo of translational mutants of the rIIB cistron of bacteriophage T4

We have mapped the mutants isolated by Nelson et al. (1981) that reduce the amount of rIIB protein synthesized during bacteriophage T4 infection of Escherichia coli B and characterized their rIIB expression in vivo. These mutants fall into four distinct groups in terms of mapping and phenotype. We have located the probable site of each mutation on the DNA sequence. We have also analyzed a number of other mutations near the initiating AUG of rIIB with respect to their rIIB expression. In some of these mutants, ribosomal recognition of the wild-type initiating AUG is precluded and so initiation occurs at a different AUG, which, in some instances, we have identified.