ON SOME PROPERTIES OF PHAGE β, A NEW RNA CONTAINING PHAGE

Abstract

Thirteen clones of RNA phages acting upon Escherichia coli (K-12 strain W2252) were isolated from sewage in Tokyo by the use of antiserum of a standard RNA phage MS-2. The properties of one of the isolates, phage β, were studied in detail. It was found that this phage gives two peaks, about 75 and 90 in the S values, upon analytical centrifugation, and arrests the formation of β-galactosidase at 25min after infection. The intracelluar mature phages begin to appear at the same time.