[The role of Ca2+ ions in a phage infection of Corynebacterium glutamicum]

It was shown that neither uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, nor lack of Ca2+ ions affected the normal MC-2 phage absorption on Corynebacterium glutamicum cells, while the phage development was repressed under these conditions. Simultaneous measurement of Ca2+, K+ and H+ ion flows, as well as measurement of membrane potential showed that the addition of the phage into the experimental medium led to significant depolarization of the membrane from -160 mV to -100 mV due to the penetration of Ca2+ ions into the cells followed by K+ and H+ efflux. The (Ca2+) to (K+ + H+) ratio was shown to be 1 : 1. Phage DNA is supposed to be injected into the host cells as a positively charged (Ca2+-DNA) complex.