Head morphologies in bacteriophage T4 head and internal protein mutant infections

Abstract

Escherichia coli infected with phage T4 mutants defective in synthesis of the three major internal proteins found in the phage head, IPI-, IPII-, IPIII-, or IP degrees (lacking all three) were examined in the electron microscope for head formation. Infection with IPI- or IPII- does not appear to induce increased aberrant head formation, whereas IPII- or IP degrees infections result in production of polyheads and viable phage. Multiple mutants of the early head formation genes 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 40 and IP degrees were constructed. Combination with IP degrees increases polyhead formation when head formation is not blocked at a more defective stage but results in a qualitative shift to lump formation in association with gene 22 mutants. Thin-sectioning studies show morphologically similar cores in amber 21 and 21am IP degrees tau particles. These morphological observations, genetic evidence for interaction between ts mutants in gene 22 and the IP mutants, and analysis of the protein composition of tau particles further support the idea that p22 and the internal proteins form an unstable assembly core necessary for an early stage of head formation (M. K. Showe and L. W. Black, 1973).