Effect of Oxidized Polyamines on the Infectivity of φX174 DNA

Abstract

Oxidized spermine and oxidized spermidine inhibited markedly the infectivity of the 6 m-urea treated φX174 particle, whereas they did not inactivate the infectivity of the untreated phage particle. They also markedly inhibited the infectivity of φX174 DNA, while φX174 RF I DNA was less sensitive to these reagents. These facts suggested that oxidized polyamines could react with phage DNA. The possible reasons of the insensitivity of phage φX174 particle and less sensitivity of φX174 RF I DNA to these reagents were discussed.