title: Dispensable sequences and packaging constraints of DNA from the Streptomyces temperate phage phi C31.
abstract: Deletion mutants of the temperate Streptomyces phage phi C31 were selected by two methods: resistance to the chelating agent sodium pyrophosphate, and plating of a phi C31::pBR322 hybrid phage on Streptomyces albus G to obtain large plaque mutants. The deletions defined a 7.7 kilobase (kb) segment of the phi C31 genome which is inessential for plaque formation, in addition to a shorter segment including the repressor gene. Analysis of deletions and insertions suggested that the minimum size of the phi C31 genome allowing plaque formation is 37.5 kb (91% of the wild-type length of 41.2 kb), and the maximum is at least 42.4 kb (103%). These results indicate that it should be possible to introduce up to 10 kb of foreign DNA into a suitably developed phi C31 vector.
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D001483:Base Sequence; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids; D013302:Streptomyces; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D011756:Diphosphates; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes