A challenge phage system was used to study the DNA-protein interaction between C_4 -dicarboylic acid transport protein D (DCTD) or [sigma]^54 , and a [sigma]^54 -dependent promoter, dctAp. R. meliloti dctA promoter regulatory region replaced the O_mnt site on the phage. S. typhimurium strains overproducing either DCTD or [sigma]^54 directed this challenge phage towards lysogeny, indicating that DCTD or E[sigma]^54 recognized the dctA promoter on the phage and repressed transcription of the ant gene. These challenge phage constructs will be useful for examining interactions between DCTD (or [sigma]^54 ) and the dctA promoter region.