HOMOLOGY BETWEEN BACTERIOPHAGE λ DNA AND E. COLI DNA

Abstract

Measurement of the binding of bacteriophage gamma DNA fragments to the DNA of E. coli demonstrated that a third of the phage genome was homologous to the bacterial chromosome. An amount equivalent to 0.2% of the DNA of E. coli B was capable of duplex formation with gamma DNA fragments. For E. coli K12 (gamma) DNA, a value of 0.8% was obtained. The difference between these values corresponds to the association of one complete molecule of DNA with the bacterial chromosome. gamma DNA fragments also bind to DNAs of other bacteria related to E. coli.