Coliphage lambda ghosts obtained by osmotic shock or LiCl treatment are devoid of J- and H-gene products.
We have proved by acrylamide gel electrophoresis that DNA-free ghosts of bacteriophage lambda obtained by osmotic shock (S-ghosts), or by incubation in 5 M-L-Cl (L-ghosts) do not possess the proteins specified by the genes J and H. Electron microscopy of L-ghosts showed that they are devoid of the whole tail tip, composed of the basal part and the tail fibre. The lack of the J-gene product, which is believed to be the tail fibre, explains why S- and L-ghosts do not adsorb to susceptible bacteria. Our results suggest that the H-gene product, which is modified after translation, is situated in the basal part of the tail.
D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D014764:Viral Proteins; D008094:Lithium