Effect of hydroxyurea on virus development. I. Electron microscopic study of the effect on the development of bacteriophage T4.

Margaretten, William (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, N.Y.), Councilman Morgan, Herbert S. Rosenkranz, and Harry M. Rose. Effect of hydroxyurea on virus development. I. Electron microscopic study of the effect on the development of bacteriophage T4. J. Bacteriol. 91:823-833. 1966.-Double fixation in gluteraldehyde and osmium tetroxide and the application of lead staining revealed details of viral structure not previously observed in thin sections. Bacteriophage presumed to have injected its deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) exhibited a dense, hollow, disc-shaped core. Within the cytoplasm of infected bacteria, the peripheral membrane of the viral heads was clearly visible. Aberrant forms containing the hollow core and believed to be devoid of DNA were encountered in studies of the normal course of development. Hydroxyurea, which is believed to interfere with the production of infective bacteriophage by inhibiting DNA synthesis, resulted in the appearance of viral particles with the hollow disc or with bizarre, distorted cores. However, a significant number of viral heads looked entirely normal and presumably contained a full complement of DNA. Hypotheses are presented to explain these observations.