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Characterization of Generalized Transducing Phage φ w39 Heteroimmune to Phage P1 in Escherichia coli W39
Author(s) -
Yoshida Yoko,
Mise Katsutoshi
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1984.tb00693.x
Subject(s) - biology , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteriophage , virology , genetics , gene
Generalized transducing phage similar to phage P1 in Escherichia coli was isolated from E. coli W39, an antigenic test strain of the O121 group. This phage, designated φ 5w39, was reciprocally heteroimmune to phages P1 and P7, but non‐reciprocally heteroimmune to phage D6. Transduction experiments using various R plasmids with different molecular weights suggested that phage φ w39 could transduce at least 65 megadaltons DNA. As in the case of P1 prophage, φ 5w39 prophage existed as a plasmid belonging to incompatibility group Y and carried a dnaB ‐like function. The molecular weight of φ 5w39 plasmid was nearly the same as that of plasmid, i.e ., 58.6 megadaltons. Despite the pronounced structural and functional similarity of phages φ w39 and P1, restriction cleavage patterns of their genomes differed considerably.