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Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
Protein Complex Assembly02:41

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types.  Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

Overview

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Updated: May 28, 2026

Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System
11:33

Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System

Published on: August 17, 2017

Bacteriophage assembly.

Anastasia A Aksyuk1, Michael G Rossmann1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Viruses
|October 14, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophage assembly, crucial for creating infectious virus particles, involves intricate molecular interactions. This review explores diverse phage assembly mechanisms and their broader implications for macromolecular complexes.

Keywords:
assemblybacteriophagegenome packagingmacromolecular complexmaturation

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Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Synthesis of Infectious Bacteriophages in an E. coli-based Cell-free Expression System
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Published on: August 17, 2017

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
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Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacteriophages have served as a vital model system for studying complex biological assembly processes for over 50 years.
  • The formation of infectious phage particles necessitates precise protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions, alongside significant conformational shifts in precursor molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss the sequence and molecular mechanisms governing bacteriophage assembly.
  • To compare and contrast the assembly processes across different groups of bacteriophages.
  • To highlight the general principles of phage assembly and their applicability to other macromolecular complexes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on bacteriophage assembly.
  • Analysis of experimental data elucidating phage assembly pathways.
  • Comparative analysis of assembly mechanisms in various bacteriophage families.

Main Results:

  • Detailed elucidation of the sequential and molecular steps involved in bacteriophage assembly.
  • Identification of conserved and divergent strategies in the assembly of different phage types.
  • Demonstration of the fundamental principles governing the self-assembly of complex biological structures.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage assembly is a highly regulated process involving specific molecular interactions and conformational changes.
  • Understanding phage assembly provides insights into the formation of various macromolecular complexes.
  • The study of bacteriophages continues to offer fundamental knowledge applicable across biology.