Ter mutation and susceptibility to φx174 phage in E. coli K12

Abstract

The Ter-15 mutant derived from E. coli K12 W2252-11U − RC str (wild type I) is found to be sensitive to φx174 phage infection. Lipopolysaccharide extracted from this mutant inactivates the phage, and has core oligosaccharides identical in amounts to those in the lipopolysaccharide from wild type cells. In contrast, the Ter-21 mutant derived from E. coli K12 W2252-11U − RC rel (wild type II) is not sensitive to this phage infection, and its lipopolysaccharide does not inactivate the phage. Its lipopolysaccharide sugars are found to be D-glucose and D-ribose, thus differing from the lipopolysaccharide sugars of the wild type cells.