Segregation into the replication of bacteriophage M 13 DNA in minicells of Escherichia coli.

Minicells derived from E. coli x796(F+) are refractory to infection by phage M 13. However, after infection of the minicell-producing strain with M 13, phage DNA is found to segregate efficiently into newly formed minicells. The M 13 specific DNA present in minicells isolated several hours after infection consists of single stranded viral DNA and double stranded replicative forms in nearly equal amounts. M 13 DNA containing minicells are capable of carrying out at least one complete round of single stranded DNA synthesis as shown by the flow of label from replicative forms to free single strands.