Lambda CI Binding to Related Phage Operator Sequences Validates Alignment Algorithm and Highlights the Importance of Overlooked Bonds

Bacteriophage lambda's CI repressor protein controls a genetic switch between the virus's lysogenic and lytic lifecycles, in part, by selectively binding to six different DNA sequences within the phage genome-collectively referred to as operator sites. However, the minimal level of information needed for CI to recognize and specifically bind these six unique-but-related sequences is unclear. In a previous study, we introduced an algorithm that extracts the minimal direct readout information needed for lambda-CI to recognize and bind its six binding sites. We further revealed direct readout information shared among three evolutionarily related lambdoid phages: lambda-phage, Enterobacteria phage VT2-Sakai, and Stx2 converting phage I, suggesting that the lambda-CI protein could bind to the operator sites of these other phages. In this study, we show that lambda-CI can indeed bind the other two phages' cognate binding sites as predicted using our algorithm, validating the hypotheses from that paper. We go on to demonstrate the importance of specific hydrogen bond donors and acceptors that are maintained despite changes to the nucleobase itself, and another that has an important role in recognition and binding. This in vitro validation of our algorithm supports its use as a tool to predict alternative binding sites for DNA-binding proteins.