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Bacteriophage ϕ29 infection of Bacillus subtilis minicells

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Summary

Bacteriophage ϕ29 can infect B. subtilis minicells and synthesize all the phage-coded proteins detected in ultraviolet irradiated-infected B. subtilis cells. Synthesis of phage unit-length DNA has been obtained after infection of minicells with ϕ29. The DNA can be encapsulated in particles with a sedimentation rate similar to that of phage ϕ29 produced in B. subtilis cells. The particles produced in minicells can be adsorbed to B. subtilis cells, but infectivity has not been demonstrated because of the very low burst-size obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma, Canto Blanco, Madrid-34, Spain

    Juan Antonio García & Margarita Salas

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  1. Juan Antonio García
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  2. Margarita Salas
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Communicated by W. Arber

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García, J.A., Salas, M. Bacteriophage ϕ29 infection of Bacillus subtilis minicells. Molec. Gen. Genet. 180, 539–545 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268058

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