The kinetics of Tn5 transposition and gene expression were studied. For about 2 h after infection with lambda Tn5, Tn5 transpositions accumulate, reaching a level of about 1.5% of the infected cells. After 2 h transposition is essentially turned off. In cells carrying a resident Tn5, transposition is undetectable after infection. The synthesis of the Tn5-specific proteins p58 and p54 and the kanamycin-resistance protein were studied in pre-irradiated cells infected with lambda Tn5. The synthesis of p58 and p54 peaked early after infection and was significantly reduced, relative to pneo, by 2 h after infection. Moreover, p54 appeared to reach a maximum later than p58. These kinetic data put new constraints on models for the regulation of Tn5 transposition.
