Several parameters of phage T4 adsorption to and growth in Escherichia
coli B/r were determined. All changed monotonously with the bacterial
growth rate (mu), which was modified by nutritional conditions. Adsor
ption rate was faster at higher mu values, positively correlated to ce
ll size, and increased by pretreatment with low penicillin (Pn) concen
trations; it was directly proportional to total cellular surface area,
indicating a constant density of T4 receptors on cell envelopes irres
pective of growth conditions. Parameters of phage development and cell
lysis were mu-dependent. The rate of phage release and burst size inc
reased, while the eclipse and latent periods decreased with increasing
mu. Differentiation between the contribution of several physiological
parameters to the development of T4 was performed by manipulating the
host cells. A competitive inhibitor of glucose uptake, methyl alpha-D
-glucoside, was exploited to reduce the growth rate in the same effect
ive carbon source. Synchronous cells were obtained by the 'baby-machin
e' and large cells were obtained by pretreatment with low Pn concentra
tions. Lysis was delayed by superinfection, and DNA content and concen
tration were modified by growing a thy mutant in limiting thymine conc
entrations. The results indicate that burst size is not limited by cel
l size or DNA composition, nor directly by the rate of metabolism, but
rather by the rates of synthesis and assembly of phage components and
by lysis time. The rates of synthesis and assembly of phage component
s seem to depend on the content of the protein-synthesizing system and
lysis time seems to depend on cellular dimensions.