This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cummings, D. J. Articles by DeLong, S. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cummings, D. J. Articles by DeLong, S. S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Virol. 1968 June; 2(6): 610-620
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Disruption of T-even Bacteriophages by Dimethyl Sulfoxide

University of Colorado Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80220

ABSTRACT

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) disrupted T-even bacteriophages as well as bacteriophage. The component substructures of T2L, T4B01, or T6, in particular heads, were readily isolated after treatment with 67% DMSO (v/v). In contrast, concentrations of DMSO above 50% not only separated heads from tails of bacteriophage but led to degradation of the heads. Examination of the isolated free heads of T-even bacteriophage indicated that a distinct neck substructure was attached to one apex of the head. On some free tails a similar neck substructure was also found at the proximal end of the sheath. The dimensions of this neck substructure were found to be about 130 by 180 A; by virtue of its size and morphological attachment to the free heads, it was concluded that this was a distinct substructure and not an extension of the tail tube.