[Formation of specifically transducing lambda dg-particles. II. Relationship between the transduction rate, the qualitative composition of the transductants, and the dose of the inducing agent].

The formation of specifically transducing lambda dg-particles in E.coli strain W3110 (lambda) due to the effect of different doses of UV irradiation was studied. A sharp increase in both the absolute number of transductants and the relative transduction frequency was found to occur as the dose of UV irradiation increased. On achieving definite doses this relationship became almost direct. At higher doses similarity was observed in the kinetics of a decrease in the absolute number of transductants and in active phage titers. As the dose increased further, a sharp increase in the percentage of heterogenoue transductants occurred. The conclusion that the formation of specifically transducing lambda dg-particles is due to the effect of the inducing factor on the DNA of lysogenic cells has been made.