Smooth specific phage adsorption: Endorhamnosidase activity of tail parts of P22

Abstract

The tail parts of phage P22 as well as the phage particles cleave the O-antigen of its host bacterium, Salmonella typhimurium . The cleavage is caused by specific breakage of α-rhamnosyl 1–3 galactose linkages. Thus the tail parts of this phage consist of an enzyme, endorhamnosidase. The enzyme was not detected in nonpermissible strain infected with an amber gene 9 mutant of P22. Head without tail parts gains infectivity only after incubation with the tail parts which carry this enzymatic activity.