Gel electrophoresis of the head proteins of T-even phage

Abstract

The subunits of T2 head protein prepared by alkaline or acetic acid degradation form four bands in acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major band M was confirmed as the product of gene 23. The significance of the k, l, and g bands is considered. T2 and T4 head protein preparations differ in the k band, but not in the M band. The method was not sufficiently sensitive to distinguish the head protein of T4 from that of the amber mutant in gene 23 grown in the permissive cell CR63; nor did it distinguish T2 head protein from the various ht mutants tested. The preparation of stable subunits is discussed.