Αlpha¹ Record ID: 4D0979F1
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Genome delivery of a contractile tailed phage and its superinfection exclusion mechanism
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Roa-Eguiara, A.; Marin-Arraiza, L.; Klein-Sousa, V.; Santiveri, M.; Rutbeek, N. R.; Piel, D.; Pape, T.; Sofos, N.; Hendriks, I. A.; Nielsen et al.
Successful viral infection requires efficient adsorption to the target cell, followed by membrane penetration for genome translocation into the host cytoplasm. Bacteriophage T4 initiates infection by recognising Escherichia coli surface receptors via its long tail fibres. Receptor binding triggers sequential conformational changes that culminate in tail sheath contraction and genome delivery through viral channels spanning the host cell envelope. Despite extensive structural studies, the mechanism of genome translocation by tailed phages remains unclear. Here, using cryo-electron microscopy, we resolved structures of bacteriophage T4 at discrete stages. This revealed how long tail fibre extension affects the baseplate to initiate tail contraction, and the domain architecture of the tape measure protein and its involvement in channel formation and genome translocation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the virus-encoded superinfection exclusion protein Imm binds to the tape measure protein to prevent secondary infections. Our findings reveal the mechanism of tape measure protein-mediated membrane penetration, offering insights into the coordinated process of genome delivery and phage-encoded superinfection exclusion proteins that prevent genome translocation.
In a nanoscale espionage saga, bacteriophage T4 deploys its genome into E. coli with a tape measure protein pulling the strings like a quirky puppet master, while the Imm protein acts as a viral bouncer, hilariously slamming the door on unwanted phage crashers.
Shared by PhD student Aritz Roa (@AritzRoa) as part of his thesis work, drawing praise for its elegant cryo-EM insights and stunning video from structural biologists like Brady Johnston (@bradyajohnston) and Dr. Richard (@richnanophd), with additional congrats from peers Arturo Carabias (@ArturoCarabias) and James Hodgkinson-Bean (@JamesBeanBio)
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