THE CONTRIBUTION OF PHOSPHORUS FROM T2r + BACTERIOPHAGE TO PROGENY,

Abstract

Cells of Escherichia coli B which had multiple infections with P32-labeled T2r+ phage were broken open at intervals after the normal latent period and the amt. of P32 contained in the virus progeny was detd. About 35% of the P32 was transferred, in agreement with the results of other workers, and this transfer was essentially complete after 22 min. when less than 1/4 of the final virus yield was formed. The transfer of P32 was also 35% in singly infected cells. P from superinfecting T2 or uv-T2 phage was largely excluded from the progeny of T2 infected cells when the interval between primary and secondary infection was greater than 3 min. With smaller intervals the extent of this exclusion was correlated closely with increasing breakdown of the superinfecting phage. Exclusion still took place when stimulation breakdown was supressed with streptomycin. T2 phosphorus was also largely excluded from the progeny of T1 and T7 infected cells.