Biochemical and morphological characterization of mycobacteriophage R1

Large-scale propagation of mycobacteriophage R1 in broth culture has allowed the isolation of quantities of virus sufficient for characterization of its nucleic acid and lipid components as well as investigation of its ultrastructural attributes. Analysis of R1 DNA indicates that it is double stranded and possesses a molecular weight of 2.5 X 10(7) and a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 65.7 +/- 0.5%. The lipid fraction of R1 accounts for 14% of the total dry weight of the virus, 20% of which was identified as free or esterified sterols. A rapid loss of viral titer occurred after seconds of exposure to organic solvents. This result suggests that the lipid fractions of R1 is essential for its infectivity. Electron microscopic investigation of solvent-extracted R1 showed extensive deterioration of its normal morphology, including nucleocapsid disintegration and base plate separation. Routine phosphotungstate preparations demonstrated a particle with an oval head and a noncontractile tail. Altering the pH of the phosphotungstate negative stain from neutrality damage the viral particles. Uranyl formate-contrasted specimens displayed an elongated hexagonal nucleocapsid with a neck region; the cross-striated tail possessed a starlike base plate.