[Coupling of bacteriophage T7 DNA penetration with its transcription, during infection]

Further research on bacteriophage T7 DNA penetration mechanism into E. coli cells during the infection was carried out. The DNA-RNA-hybridization on nitrocellulose filters revealed that in the presence of chloramphenicol the T7 DNA penetration from the virion into a host cell was coupled with its transcription by the bacterial RNA polymerase. The data obtained indicate that in the absence of antibiotics the penetration of a part of T7 genome which correspondes to class II and III genes is coupled with its transcription by a phage-specific RNA polymerase. Along with this the host restriction-modification system when its activity is not inhibited by the phage-induced proteins will be able to cleave the penetrated T7 DNA just after its transcription was accomplished. Considering these data along with our conception on direct involvement of transcription in T7 DNA penetration process during the infection one can suggest that E. coli RNA polymerase molecules which provide the phage DNA transport, are localized at the inner surface of cytoplasmic membrane.