MECHANISM OF T-EVEN DNA EJECTION

The proposed physical model explains the mechanism of T-even phage DNA injection into a bacterium as a result of an internal pressure caused by the thermal agitation of large molecules (e.g. polyamines, polypeptides and internal protein) inside the phage head. The action of this resulting internal pressure on the DNA thread was simulated on a macroscopic model to the scale 105: 1, where the DNA thread was represented by a nylon thread. According to this hypothesis, the phage DNA should be released from the head after uncorking" reactions independent of the bacterium. Many experimental results support the proposed mechanism of the DNA injection. The calculated injection time is short enough to satisfy the phage injection process. Although the suggested mechanism was proposed only for T-even phages it could be probably extended for some other types of viruses too. © 1969."