Bacteriophage f1 infection and colicin tolerance.

Bacteriophage f1-infected cells are relatively insensitive to a variety of colicins including E1, E2, and K; an f1 gene product is responsible for this insensitivity. A colicin-tolerant mutant cannot grow f1 phage; f1 DNA does not penetrate this mutant properly. One interpretation of these results is that an f1 gene product blocks the penetration of colicins which is necessary for their action, whereas the colicin-tolerant mutation blocks the penetration of colicins as well as phage f1 DNA.