Temperature-sensitive mutation in lytF, a new gene involved in autolysis of Escherichia coli

The lytF gene of Escherichia coli, located at 62.5 min on the genetic linkage map, is possibly related to murH, lytD and lytE genes as indicated by phenotypic parallels and common properties of extragenic suppressors. Thermosensitivity and lytF-mediated lysis are suppressed by smhA1 and smhB1 mutations which are extragenic suppressors of thermosensitive mutation. New alleles of smhA and smhB with suppressive properties are isolated.