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Intercellular Transfer by Phage Receptor Site Lipopolysaccharide

Nature New Biology volume 239, pages 120–122 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

TREATMENT of Escherichia coli cells with lysozyme and EDTA partially removes the outer layer of the cell wall containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leaving osmotically unstable spheroplasts1. These can be infected with phage nucleic acid2 and can produce viable phage particles. Removal of LPS-containing phage receptor sites3–5, however, leaves spheroplasts resistant to infection by intact phages1. We now show that LPS, obtained from phage-sensitive cells by aqueous phenol extraction, can provide functional phage receptor sites to spheroplasts prepared from cells lacking receptor sites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, 14214

    GORDON WATSON & KENNETH PAIGEN

  2. Department of Experimental Biology, Roswell Parle Memorial institute, Buffalo, New York, 14203

    GORDON WATSON & KENNETH PAIGEN

Authors
  1. GORDON WATSON
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  2. KENNETH PAIGEN
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WATSON, G., PAIGEN, K. Intercellular Transfer by Phage Receptor Site Lipopolysaccharide. Nature New Biology 239, 120–122 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio239120a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio239120a0

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