Canavanine-mediated depletion of polyamine pools in Escherichia coli: effect of head morphogenesis and DNA synthesis.

We have found that L-canavanine inhibited the synthesis of polyamines in T4-infected Escherichia coli. These polyamines are known to be required for T4 DNA synthesis and may be involved in phage morphogenesis. The new data indicate that the inhibition of polyamine synthesis is not primarily responsible for the L-conavanine-mediated inhibition of DNA synthesis nor does it seem to be involved in the induction of lollipops. L-Canavanine does influence the relative amounts of putrescine and spermidine found in the phage particle, but it does not influence the amount of DNA phosphate neutralized by polyamines.