[New lambdoid phages of Escherichia coli. II. Comparison of several genetic characteristics with lambda phages]

Functions of some newly isolated lambdoid phages and phage lambda genes were compared by their ability to interact with unrelated phages and the product of the bacterial gene gro P. 19 of 23 lambdoid phages studied interfere with prophage P2, that points out the presence of functionally active genes, essential for spi+ phenotype in their genomes. The development of 4 lambdoid phages with spi- phenotype is independent on the prophage P2 presence. Most of lambdoid phages show the reduced growth ability on the C600 groP- bacterial lawn. This indicates that they have a function similar to the gene P of phage lambda. The development of phage phi M417 in bacterial mutants groP- is not disturbed, which indicates that the gene P of phage phi M417 is different from that of the phage lambda. Newly isolated phages, that are homoimmune to phage lambda, restrict the development of T4 rII phage. The rest lambdoid phages have no rex function. The growth efficiency of lampodid phages on E. coli C cells, carrying Eco R1 plasmid, varies from 10(-6) to 10(-8) that presumbaly indicates on different amounts of restionci strites in DNA of these phages.