Allomorphic forms of bacteriophage phiX-174 replicative DNA.

The bacteriophage øX-174 replicative form of DNA exists in two configurations, as judged by electron microscopy and sucrose density gradient sedimentation, and on methylated albumin-coated kieselguhr column chromatography. The predominant 21S form of the DNA is a tightly twisted circle. Treatment with deoxyribonuclease causes a single scission in one of the two strands, resulting in an open circle which sediments at 16S.