Direction of Translation and Size of Bacteriophage [var phi]X174 Cistrons

Translation of the bacteriophage [var phi]X174 genome follows cistron order D-E-F-G-H-A-B-C. To establish this, the position of a nonsense mutation on the genetic map was compared with the physical size (molecular weight) of the appropriate protein fragment generated in nonpermissive cells. Distances on the [var phi]X174 genetic map and distances on a physical map constructed from the molecular weights of [var phi]X174 proteins and protein fragments are proportional over most of the genome with the exception of the high recombination region within cistron A