title: phi gamma: A coliphage coliphage related to, but distinct from the phi 80 virion.
abstract: The coliphage phi gamma, though capable of genetic recombination with phi 80, is morphologically distinct from the phi 80 virion. It has a prolate head (58.4 X 46.7 nm) bearing a tail (143 nm) which is strikingly flexible. On the basis of their buoyant density in CsC1, both infectious and transducing phi gamma particles form a single population. This density value is slightly higher than that of the phi 80 virion. The phi gamma chromosome is a double-stranded linear DNA molecule of 13.4 mum in length (corresponding mol. wt.: 27.6 X 10(6)). From its melting temperature and its buoyant density in CsC1, phi gamma DNA appears to have a base composition very close to that of Escherichia coli DNA.
mesh_terms: D002213:Capsid; D003090:Coliphages / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004267:DNA Viruses; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins