[Properties of two Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages].

Two lytic bacteriophages of Bacillus subtilis BF7658 were isolated. Their morphology, biological properties and physiochemical characteristics of their DNAs were compared. Electromicroscopic observation indicated that BS31 has a hexagonal head and contracted tail sheath, BS32 is a complex short-tailed phage and similar to phi 29 but differs from phi 29 in size and other properties. Two phages have a narrow spectrum of host range. The molecular weight of BS31 and BS32 DNAs are 62kb and 17kb respectively by EcoR1 endonuclease analysis. The G + C content of the DNAs are 45.7%(BS31) and 40.7%(BS32). Structural proteins of BS31 gave two major bands and at least ten minor ones; BS32 gave three major bands and six minor ones by SDS-polyacralamide gel electrophoresis.