Intracellular events in canavanine-treated, T4-infected Escherichia coli

Abstract

Intracellular phage production is markedly inhibited for 30–40 min in complexes treated at 5 min after infection with the arginine analog L-canavanine. Complexes treated at later times produce phage at a reduced rate and stop phage production earlier than normal. Total protein and RNA synthesis are unaffected by canavanine addition at any time, whereas DNA synthesis is rapidly inhibited at all times of addition. The major head protein of T4 is not found in canavanine-treated complexes. The major protein found in these cells has a molecular weight similar to that of the precursor of the major head protein of T4.