CHEMICAL STUDIES ON HOST-VIRUS INTERACTIONS : III. TRYPTOPHANE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STAGES OF VIRUS MULTIPLICATION IN THE ESCHERICHIA COLI-T2 BACTERIOPHAGE SYSTEM.

The inhibition of virus multiplication by 5-methyl tryptophane can be specifically reversed by tryptophane. The conditions of reversal indicate that 5MT specifically interferes with tryptophane utilization. The tryptophane requirements of virus multiplication appear to exist throughout the latent period and determine the time of lysis and amount of virus liberated. A latent period may be interrupted for 15 minutes or more and be resumed on addition of tryptophane. Extended inhibition with 5MT results in a somewhat variable "killing" effect, the extent of which determines aspects of the reversal of the inhibition by tryptophane. The implications of these phenomena have been discussed.