M13 phage
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
M13 is a filamentous bacteriophage composed of circular single stranded DNA (ssDNA 6407 nucleotides long) encapsulated in approximately 2700 copies of the major coat protein P8, and capped with 5 copies of two different minor coat proteins (P9, P6, P3) on the ends. The minor coat protein P3 attaches to the receptor at the tip of the F-pilus of the host E.coli. Infection with filamentous phages is not lethal, instead the infection cause turbid plaques in E.coli. It is a non-lytic virus which has been studied for its uses in nanostructures and nanotechnology.