Abstract
The short tailfibers (STF) of bacteriophage T4 are important in the process of phage infection, in which they attach irreversibly to the bacterial surface. In this study we determined the effect of the short tailfibers on the extension of the long tailfibers (LTF) of the bacteriophage, by means of electric birefringence measurements. The following conclusions could be drawn: (i) The products of gene 12 carry a negative charge, which manifests itself as a contribution of two elementary charges to the effective charge of the particle in solution. (ii) The STF are folded closely to the baseplate structure. (iii) LTF extension is influenced by the presence of the STF which indicates that the baseplate structure is important for the movement of the LTF. The pH at which the LTF begin to extend (the “locking pH”) is not affected by the presence of the STF. (iv) The difference in rotational diffusion coefficient between T4, T2, and T6 is not caused by the short tailfibers.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
