Thermophilic mutants of a mesophilic phage: A report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours in the University of Canterbury

Abstract

This investigation must be considered as a pilot study and although I believe it will eventually lead to an insight into the molecular basis of the phenomenon of thermophily, much preliminary work is necessary. The growth temperature of the mutant must be raised so as to cross the boundary between mesophily and thermophily which, in bacteria, has been stated to lie between 44° and 52°c {Bausum and Matney, 1965). This, at the present stage, probably constitutes little problem. However, the present mutant phage is obtained with frequencies which lead one to believe that single base changes may be involved. Thus, identification of the molecular basis of this change in growth temperature may be identified more readily by work at 37° and 48°c than it would be at 37° and 55°c. In addition, it is noted that the acquired changes in growth temperature can most likely be ascribed to changes in phage enzymes so that identification of the changes responsible will not be simple. This study has, nevertheless, opened a field which promises to be most productive.