EFFECT OF RIFAMPIN ON PRODUCTION OF BETA22 PHAGE BY BACILLUS SUBTILIS

The RNA polymerase which transcribes phage 822 following infection of Bacillus subtilis retains the rifampin sensitivity of the host cell enzyme. Competition-hybridization experiments show that several populations of phage-specific RNA molecules are produced during infection. The ability of rifampin to prevent the maturation of phage 822 is partially lost as soon as the complement of RNA species is qualitatively complete; however, the addition of the antibiotic continues to depress the yield of phage until shortly before lysis, indicating that the quantity of the late RNA species is correlated with the yield of phage. © 1969.