Über die Rezeptorsubstanz für den Phagen T5

Abstract

It is shown that attachment of the T5 tailtip to its specific receptor requires an activation energy of 11 kcal/M and is irreversible. It is this reaction which, probably through formation of covalent bonds between phage and receptor, causes inactivation of the phage particle. The subsequent ejection of its DNA is merely accessory in this respect. In contrast, the bonds between phage T1 and its specific receptor are easily dissociable, the phage is released intact, and the binding requires an activation energy of only 4 kcal/M. Morphogenetic implications of an autocatalytic formation of specific covalent bonds between macromolecular complexes are discussed.