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Characterization of Natronobacterium magadii phage ΦCh1, a unique archaeal phage containing DNA and RNA
Author(s) -
Witte Angela,
Baranyi Ulrike,
Klein Reinhard,
Sulzner Michael,
Luo Cheng,
Wanner Gerhard,
Kru¨ger Detlev H.,
Lubitz Werner
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1997.d01-1879.x
Subject(s) - biology , phagemid , lysogenic cycle , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , rna , temperateness , bacteriophage , prophage , lysogen , lytic cycle , cosmid , virology , virus , escherichia coli , gene , genetics
A novel archaeal bacteriophage, ΦCh1, was isolated from a haloalkalophilic archaeon Natronobacterium magadii upon spontaneous lysis. The phage‐cured strain N. magadii (L13) was used to demonstrate infectivity of phage ΦCh1. The turbid‐plaque morphology and the fact that N. magadii cells isolated from plaques were able to produce phage indicated that ΦCh1 is a temperate phage. The phage morphology resembles other members of Myoviridae ‐infecting Halobacterium species. In solution below 2 M NaCl, the phage lost its morphological stability and infectivity. One‐ and two‐dimensional SDS–PAGE of phage particles revealed at least four major and five minor proteins with molecular masses ranging from 15 to 80 kDa and acidic isoelectric points. Southern blot analysis of chromosomal DNA of a lysogenic N. magadii strain showed that ΦCh1 exists as a chromosomally integrated prophage. The phage particles contain both double‐stranded, linear DNA (approx. 55 kbp) as well as several RNA species (80–700 nucleotides). Hybridization of labelled RNA fragments to total DNA from N. magadii and ΦCh1 showed that the virion‐associated RNA is host encoded. Part of the phage DNA population is modified and restriction analysis revealed evidence for adenine methylation. Phage ΦCh1 is the first virus described for the genus Natronobacterium , and the first phage containing DNA and RNA in mature phage particles.