Genetic transformation in Staphylococcus aureus: demonstration of a competence-conferring factor of bacteriophage origin in bacteriophage 80 alpha lysates.
A virion component that is responsible for conferring competence to Staphylococcus aureus was demonstrated in lysates of bacteriophage 80 alpha, a serological group B phage. Isolated particles of 80 alpha could not be shown to confer significant levels of competence. The phage component had a density of about 1.3 g/cm3, was inactivated by pronase, and was inhibited by antiserum prepared against isolated infectious particles of a serological group B phage. Centrifugation through a Ficoll gradient resulted in separation of competence-conferring activity and plaque-forming units. It is concluded that this proteinaceous subvirion component constitutes a bona fide competence factor of bacteriophage origin.
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D011402:Pronase / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C423628:competence factor, Streptococcus; D011402:Pronase