Effects of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on the infection of Escherichia coli K12 by phage-lambda DNA.
Some effects of two uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on infection of Escherichia coli K12 by bacteriophage lambda deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are described. Dinitrophenol did not interfere with the initial interaction of the cells with free DNA, and neither dinitrophenol nor carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone affected the linear portion of the infection reaction. However, the process by which lambda-DNA bound to the bacterial cell became insensitive to deoxyribonuclease was strongly inhibited by both uncoupling agents. These results support the conclusion that successful infection of E. coli with phage lambda-DNA is coupled to cellular energy metabolism and localize a portion of the infection reaction which is sensitive to the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Possible energy-requiring steps in the infection process are discussed.
Barnhart
B J
BJ
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA.
Gregg
C T
CT