The transfecting activity of linear lambda DNA is 100 times higher in calcium treated E. coli K12 (lambda i434) than in non-lysogenic strains: the levels of transfection are 1-2.10(7) and 1-2.10(5) infective centers per 1 mug of lambda DNA respectively. The high efficiency of lysogenic cells transfection is not due to the spontaneously liberated "helper" phage. Evidently, it is called forth by transfecting DNA-prophage recombination or/and by inhibition of nuclease activity in lysogenic cells. Both ring forms lambda DNA (supercoiled and open circles) show very low infectivity, if any, in calcinated cells.