Electron microscopy of phages liberated by megacin A producing lysogenic Bacillus megaterium strains.
Mitomycin C was added at fairly high concentration (5-10 mug/ml) to exponentially growing cultures of selected strains of Bacillus megaterium. Lysis of the bacteria followed, associated by liberation of phage and megacin A production. In contrast, a low concentration (0.5 mug/ml) of mitomycin induced only megacin A production. Electron microscopic examination of the lysates induced by 5-10 mug/ml of mitomycin in 19 strains of B. megaterium showed them all to contain phages; most of the strains proved polylysogenic. Their lysates contained distinct complete phages of different structures and dimensions. A few strains released defective phage particles. The significance of the electron microscopic findings is discussed in relation to megacinogeny.
D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000378:metabolism*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008242:Lysogeny; D008530:Megacins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins
D001430:Bacteriocins; D008530:Megacins; D008937:Mitomycins; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins