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Related Experiment Videos

Three-dimensional structure of bacteriophage T4 baseplate.

Victor A Kostyuchenko1, Petr G Leiman, Paul R Chipman

  • 1Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117997 Moscow, Russia.

Nature Structural Biology
|August 19, 2003
PubMed
Summary

The bacteriophage T4 baseplate structure was determined using cryoelectron microscopy. This reveals a detailed molecular machine crucial for viral infection, including host recognition and DNA delivery.

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Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Virology
  • Molecular machines

Background:

  • The bacteriophage T4 baseplate is a complex molecular machine responsible for critical steps in viral infection.
  • Understanding its structure is key to deciphering viral entry mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the three-dimensional structure of the bacteriophage T4 baseplate-tail tube complex.
  • To identify the arrangement and shape of baseplate proteins and their role in infection.

Main Methods:

  • Cryoelectron microscopy was used to determine the structure.
  • Analysis of the complex at a resolution of 12 Å.

Main Results:

  • The baseplate-tail tube complex has a six-fold symmetric, dome-like structure (520 Å diameter, 270 Å long) with a central hub.

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  • A 940 Å-long tail tube is connected coaxially to the baseplate.
  • The locations of six known proteins and the shapes of other baseplate proteins were identified, including a cell-puncturing device.

    • Conclusions:

    • The determined structure provides insights into the bacteriophage T4 baseplate's function.
    • The structure suggests a mechanism for baseplate triggering and conformational changes during T4 infection initiation.