Gene K of bacteriophage phi X 174 codes for a nonessential protein.

Gene K of phi X 174, which overlaps genes A, B, and C, was found to be nonessential, although possibly beneficial for the growth of the phage. Viable mutants of gene K made less than 4% of the normal amount of K protein as judged by quantitative fluorography of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels; compared with the wild-type phi X, K mutants had an identical latent period but a two- to threefold reduction in burst size.