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Mechanism of Inactivation of DNA and RNA Bacteriophages by Alkylating Agents in Vitro¹

Fels Research Institute and Department of Microbiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bifunctional alkylating agents, analogs of di-(2-chloroethyl)-methylamine, inactivate bacteriophages, including RNA phage (MS2), single-standed DNA phages (X174, S13, and f1), and double-stranded DNA phages (T2 and P22), whereas monofunctional alkylating agents do not inactivate these phages significantly. Therefore, it is concluded that inactivation may occur by intrastrand cross-linkage in DNA or RNA as well as by interstrand cross-linkage between complementary strands of DNA.

When bifunctional alkylating agents are used containing threitol or mannitol as the substituent, inactivation was restricted to a few phage strains. A possible mechanism for this observation is discussed.

¹ Supported in part by Grant NIH (CA07174-02).

² On leave from Department of Bacteriology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.

Received 10/14/65. Accepted 5/24/66.