The Effect of Temperature on the Formation of T1 and T2r Bacteriophage

A very rapid variation of yield of T1 and T2r bacteriophage in E. coli at slightly higher than normal temperatures has been observed. T1 phage will develop at 41.2°C but not at 41.7°C. By infecting cells grown on lactose and, therefore, induced to contain beta galactosidase, a technique which indicates when cells have become leaky was worked out. This method shows that at elevated temperatures the enzymatic attack on the cell wall continues to go at a faster rate, while completion of the phage goes more slowly. Thermal constants are given for the processes. Cells at higher temperature, grown on P32 medium develop incomplete particles capable of combining with phage antibody. This suggests that the process affected by the early leakiness of the cells is the completion of the virus protein coat. Supplementing the medium with casamino acids, phosphate, and ATP causes the “rescue” of phage particles by aiding the formation of the coat. This can be achieved several minutes after the cells have become leaky and may form a useful system for the study of phage development in the presence of analogs