[Discontinuous transfer of phage T7 DNA molecules into Escherichia coli cells during infection]

HpaI restriction analysis of the part of T7 DNA molecule which comes off from E. coli after ultrasonic desorption of virion had been carried out. In such a way it was possible to follow the transfer of labelled T7 DNA into the host cell after the phage adsorption under different conditions. It was established that in the presence of chloramphenicol the left 60% of T7 chromosome is gradually (during 20 min) transferred into the cell and further transport is stopped. This suggests that some T7 gene(s) of I or (and) II class(es) is (are) necessary to transfer the last 40% of T7 DNA molecule containing the genes encoding capsid proteins. Also some new results are obtained which support thr idea about the tight coupling of the processes of T7 DNA transport and its transcription, and about the possibility for RNA polymerase to carry a mechanical function as well. All these results suggest a rather complicated mechanism of the process of T7 DNA transfer into the host cell consisting of at least three stages tightly connected with T7 gene expression temporal control. Some probable consequences of this model as well as its agreement with functional structure of T7 chromosome and with T7 development are discussed.