Transduction of a cosmid with the R4 phage cos sequence by heterogeneous actinophages, SPA10 and SPA38.

A cosmid, pR4C1, composed of the actinophage R4 cos sequence and Streptomyces plasmid pIJ365, was encapsidated in R4 phage particles in vivo. [T. Morino et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 198, 228-233 (1985)] In this report a cosmid derivative, pR4C4, is shown to be also encapsidated by heterogeneous actinophages, SPA10 and SPA38, and transferred to Streptomyces lividans. Use of this transduction and conservation of the DNA packaging mechanism are discussed.