Purification of the bacteriophage lambda late gene regulator encoded by gene Q.

The product of bacteriophage lambda gene Q is a transcription antiterminator that activates phage late gene expression. We report a method to purify the lambda Q protein to near homogeneity. We have followed during purification both activity of Q protein to provoke in vitro synthesis of the lambda late protein endolysin in the DNA-dependent protein-synthesizing system, and radioactivity in a polypeptide that we show by genetic criteria to be lambda Q. These co-purify throughout the procedure.