In vitro phage lambda DNA packaging system

摘要

A bacterial preparation capable of packaging phage &lgr; DNA is disclosed. This preparation is in lyophilized form and is stable at ambient temperature. In a preferred form, the preparation contains an over-expressed terminase protein, is prepared from the bacterial strain E. coli Cla [&lgr; c/857 Sam7 &Dgr;(cos-Nu1-A)::Kn.sup.r ]/&lgr; pTER and is capable of a packaging efficiency of at least 1×10.sup. 8 pfu/&mgr;g wild type &lgr; DNA. The present invention is also a method of creating a phage &lgr; DNA packaging extract comprising the steps of preparing a bacterial extract capable of packaging phage &lgr; and lyophilizing said extract.