Structure of eight streptococcal bacteriophages.

Eight phages from groups A, B, C, E, G, and H streptococci were propagated in their own hosts, purified, and examined for morphology; the size, shape, and structure of their extracted nucleic acids was also examined. Electron microscopy showed three types of phage morphology. All eight phages possess linear double-stranded DNAs of molecular weights ranging from 10.5 X 10(6) to 24 X 10(6). Four phages from three different serological groups presented an identical pattern of restriction enzyme fragments. As shown by BAL31 digestion prior to restriction and by reanneling experiments, all but one DNA is circularly permuted. Terminal repetition is also present in six phage DNAs.