Summary
F′ pro + plasmids were selected and used as donors to prepare P22 transducing phages. Two types of result were observed. pro + from type I donors cannot be packaged by wild-type P22 to yield transducing particles unless a prophage pac site is introduced into the plasmid. Transposon Tn10 also allows initiation of packaging. pro + from type II plasmids can be transduced with the same efficiency as pro + DNA on the chromosome, indicating that a chromosomal pac site was included when the F′ pro + was excised from the Hfr strain. The usefulness of type I plasmids as a test substrate for pac signals is discussed.
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Communicated by H. Saedler
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Schmieger, H. pac sites are indispensable for in vivo packaging of DNA by phage P22. Mol Gen Genet 195, 252–255 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332755
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332755