Achromobacter sp. 2 Phage 3: A Physical Characterization

Abstract

Phage .alpha.3 had a buoyant density of 1.506 g/ml, suggesting a protein capsid. The MW of the phage genome was 34 .+-. 1 .times. 106. A dual genome population was observed and partial denaturation, duplex and restriction analyses facilitated distinction between constituent phages, .alpha.3.tau. and .alpha.3.omega.. Phage .alpha.3.tau. exhibited a 0.7 .+-. 0.2 .times. 106 MW deletion in its genome with respect to .alpha.3.omega.. Both phages were encapsulated by a headful mechanism and the genomes were permuted over 27% and < 18% of their length, respectively. Stable variants may be isolated. These phages offer potential, through physical studies, to elucidate the properties of the Achromobacter-.alpha.3 system.