Inactivation of Bacteriophage T7 by Selective Inorganic Radicals

SummaryThe inactivation of suspensions of bateriophage T7 in buffer, by the selective inorganic radicals Br2− and (CNS)2−, has been investigated. The efficiency of inactivation by Br2− has been shown to be 16 times greater than that due to (CNS)2−. The results show that tyrosine and/or histidine residues are important to the biological function of the phage tail whereas tryptophan and cysteine residues are not as essential.The effect of several amino acids on the inactivation by both Br2− and (CNS)2− has been studied. The data demonstrate the specificity of reaction of these radicals with certain amino acids.