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Three-dimensional structure of the bacteriophage P22 tail machine
Liang Tang1, William R Marion, Gino Cingolani
1Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
The EMBO Journal
|June 4, 2005
Summary
The bacteriophage P22 tail machine
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Virology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- The bacteriophage P22 tail is essential for phage assembly and infection.
- Understanding its structure is key to deciphering its functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the three-dimensional structure of the P22 tail machine.
- To elucidate the organization of its protein subunits and their roles in biological functions.
Main Methods:
- Electron cryo-microscopy
- Image reconstruction techniques
Main Results:
- The P22 tail machine comprises 51 subunits from five different polypeptide types.
- Subunits are organized with twelve-, six-, and three-fold symmetry.
- The structure reveals mechanisms for host cell attachment and DNA translocation.
Conclusions:
- The determined structure provides atomic-level insights into P22 tail machine function.
- This structural information aids in understanding phage-host interactions and infection processes.