Phage Growth and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Escherichia coli Infected by a Thymine-Requiring Bacteriophage.

Mathews, Christopher K. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Phage growth and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in Escherichia coli infected by a thymine-requiring bacteriophage. J. Bacteriol. 90:648-652. 1965.-Cultures of Escherichia coli B infected with a mutant strain of phage T4 which cannot induce the formation of thymidylate synthetase produce deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) at about two-thirds the rate of cultures infected with the parent strain. Under certain conditions the yield of viable phage observed with the mutant is one-third of that brought about by the wild-type strain. Addition of thymine increases both DNA synthesis and phage production in cells infected by the mutant. It is suggested that the ability to induce thymidylate synthetase formation in infected cells confers a selective advantage on the wild-type strain.