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The tail lysozyme complex of bacteriophage T4
Fumio Arisaka1, Shuji Kanamaru, Petr Leiman
1Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, 226-8510, Yokohama, Japan. farisaka@bio.titech.ac.jp
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|December 7, 2002
Summary
Bacteriophage T4 gene 5 protein (gp5) is a cell-puncturing device. Its lysozyme activity is inhibited until infection, enabling baseplate assembly and cell wall penetration.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Structural biology
- Virology
Background:
- Bacteriophage T4 tail baseplate is crucial for host cell infection.
- Gene 5 encodes a key structural protein (gp5) with enzymatic activity.
- gp5 undergoes post-translational modification and assembly into the baseplate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structure and function of the bacteriophage T4 gene 5 protein (gp5).
- To understand the mechanism of gp5-mediated cell wall penetration during infection.
Main Methods:
- 3D structural analysis of undissociated cleaved gp5 complexed with gp27.
- Biochemical characterization of gp5 lysozyme activity and its regulation.
Main Results:
- The 3D structure reveals gp5 as a cell-puncturing device.
- gp5's lysozyme activity is inhibited until infection initiation.
- Cleavage and dissociation of gp5 are essential for its function.
Conclusions:
- gp5 functions as a molecular machine to penetrate the bacterial outer membrane.
- gp5's lysozyme activity is precisely regulated for efficient host cell lysis.
- The structural and functional insights into gp5 are vital for understanding bacteriophage infection mechanisms.