title: Bacteriophage P22 capsids with a subgenome length of packaged DNA.
abstract: Bacteriophage P22 assembles a DNA-free procapsid that subsequently packages P22 DNA. To study the packaging of bacteriophage P22 DNA, attempts were made to isolate P22 capsids with a subgenome length of packaged DNA. With the use of cesium chloride buoyant density sedimentation and agarose gel electrophoresis, the following capsids with a subgenome length of packaged DNA were isolated and characterized: (i) a capsid with the solid-support-free electrophoretic mobility and radius of the DNA-free P22 procapsid; (ii) a capsid with the solid-support-free electrophoretic mobility and radius of the mature P22 bacteriophage; and (iii) a capsid with a solid-support-free electrophoretic mobility and possibly a radius intermediate to those of the procapsid and bacteriophage.
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral