This Article Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published 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 Scher, B M Articles by Garro, A J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Scher, B M Articles by Garro, A J

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Virol. 1977 August; 23(2): 377-383

Fragmentation of Bacillus bacteriophage phi105 DNA by complementary single-stranded DNA in the cohesive ends of the molecule.

ABSTRACT

The structure of DNA from the temperate Bacillus subtilis phage phi105 was examined by using the restriction endonuclease EcoRI and by sedimentation analysis. The DNA contains six EcoRI cleavage sites. Although eight DNA fragments were identified in the EcoRI digests, the largest of these was shown to consist of the two fragments that carry the cohesive ends of the phage DNA. In neutral gradients, the majority of whole phi105 DNA sedimented as nicked circles and the remainder as oligomers. No unit-length linear structures were detected. The associated cohesive ends could be sealed by DNA ligase from Escherichia coli and could be cleaved by S1 nuclease. On the basis of these results and previously reported studies, it appears that, as isolated from phage particles, phi105 DNA is a circular molecule that is formed from the linear structure by the association of complementary single-stranded DNA.