Temperate bacteriophage ZF40 of Erwinia carotovora: phage particle structure and DNA restriction analysis

Structural organization of the temperate bacteriophage ZF40 of Erwinia carotovora was studied. Phage ZF40 proved to be a typical member of the Myoviridae family (morphotype A1). Phage particles consist of an isometric head 58.3 nm in diameter and a contractile 86.3-nm-long tail with a complex basal plate and short tail fibers (31.5 nm). Phage tail sheath, a truncated cone in shape, is characterized by specific packaging of structural subunits. The ZF40 phage genome is 45.8 kb in size, as determined by restriction analysis, and contains DNA cohesive ends. The ZF40 phage of Erwinia carotovora is assumed to be a new species of bacteriophages specific for enterobacteria.