High-molecular-weight DNA and the sedimentation coefficient: a new perspective based on DNA from T7 bacteriophage and two novel forms of T4 bacteriophage.

The DNA molecules from T7 bacteriophage and a recently obtained mutant form of T4D were studied. The DNA of this T4 mutant contains cytosine in place of all of the glucosylated hydroxymethylcytosines normally present in T4. Molecular weights were measured with an electron microscope technique, and sedimentation coefficients were determined in isokinetic sucrose gradients. T7 DNA was found to have an Mr of 26.5 x 10(6). The T4 mutant, which we have termed T4c, produces two distinct phage head and DNA size clases. DNA from the standard heads (T4c DNA) has an Mr of 114.9 x 10(6), and DNA from the petite heads (T4cp DNA) has an Mr of 82.9 x 10(6). This enabled the derivation of an equation of sedimentation coefficient at zero concentration corrected to water at 20 degrees C versus Mr for the molecular weight range of 25 x 10(6) to 115 x 10(6) that is based solely on cytosine-containing DNA standards, thereby avoiding possible anomalies introduced by the glucosylation and hydroxymethylation of cytosine. The theory of Gray et al. provided the best description of the sedimentation coefficient versus Mr relationship, based on the sedimentation coefficients and the molecular weights of the three DNA standards and other evidence.