The alpha-glucosyltransferases of bacteriophages T2, T4 and T6. A comparison of their primary structures.

With the aim of comparing the primary structures of gene products coded for by T-even bacteriophages we constructed clone libraries of the DNAs of bacteriophages T2 and T6. Using hybrid M13 phages carrying the gene for the T4-coded alpha-glucosyl transferase (alpha gt) we isolated corresponding T2 and T6 clones. The nucleotide sequences of the three alpha gt genes and the amino acid sequences derived were compared. The differences between the genes and their products are discussed in terms of structure, function and evolutionary aspects.