Ion fluxes during T5 bacteriophage infection of Escherichia coli

When T5 bacteriophage infects Escherichia coli B, ⁴²K⁺ is immediately released from cells that have been preloaded with this ion. The rate of ion release and the total amount released are dependent on the multiplicity of infection and are not diminished by the use of mutants which can only inject 8% of their DNA. Normally, the ion release stops at about 6 min postinfection. If the host cells contain the colicinogenic factor, Col Ib, so that the infection is abortive, K⁺ release continues. Evidence is presented to show that this continued ion release cannot be explained by a “damage and repair” hypothesis. The results are, however, consistent with the interpretation of membrane depolarization due to ion pore formation as the cause of the abortive infection.