The detection of temperature induced structural changes in T4B and T7 bacteriophages by means of high precision acoustic velocity measurements.
High precision measurements of the velocity of 7-7.5 MHz ultrasonic waves in suspensions of both T4B and T7 bacteriophages as a function of temperature revealed the presence of a distinct transition in the physiological range of 35-45 degrees C. Data from acoustic measurements, sedimentation analysis and electron microscopy enabled us to identify this transition as being caused by the protein component of the phage and not the DNA. This transition does not depend on the position of the long tail fibers and may be part of some normal physiological process within the bacteriophage which presumably enhances its recognition and attachment to its host cell.
D000162:Acoustics; D011846:Radio Waves; D013604:T-Phages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013696:Temperature; D014465:Ultrasonics