SUMMARY: Radioactively labelled coliphage λ DNA is rapidly and irreversibly bound by competent bacteria of certain cultures of Haemophilus influenzae. The extent of adsorption in the presence of excess cells was always between 30 and 40% of the DNA added. Bound DNA was rather resistant against degradation to acid-soluble products but the biological activity was completely lost after 60 min. incubation. Reisolated phage λ DNA always banded in CsCl gradient centrifugation at a position characteristic for double stranded λ DNA. It sedimented with normal or slightly reduced velocity in sucrose density gradients. Production of λ phage or of infectious phage λ DNA was not observed.
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