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Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

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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...
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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...
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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...
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Many proteins form complexes to carry out their functions, making protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential for an organism's survival. Most PPIs are stabilized by numerous weak noncovalent chemical forces. The physical shape of the interfaces determines the way two proteins interact. Many globular proteins have closely-matching shapes on their surfaces, which form a large number of weak bonds. Additionally, many PPIs occur between two helices or between a surface cleft and a...
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The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
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The Bacteriophage Head-to-Tail Interface.

Paulo Tavares1

  • 1Department of Virology, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. paulo.tavares@i2bc.paris-saclay.fr.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|June 15, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Tailed bacteriophages utilize a portal vertex and head-to-tail interface for DNA packaging and controlled release into host cells. This review details the molecular assembly and function of this critical viral structure.

Keywords:
BacteriophageCapsidDNA ejectionDNA packagingHead-to-tail interfacePortal system

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Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Icosahedral viruses employ portal vertices for genome packaging into viral capsids.
  • This portal structure regulates viral genetic material release into host cells.
  • In tailed bacteriophages, the portal connects to a tail device for bacterial cytoplasm genome delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular mechanisms of head-to-tail interface assembly in tailed phages.
  • To elucidate how this interface controls viral DNA packaging and ejection.
  • To understand the critical role of the interface in the phage life cycle.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on bacteriophage structure and function.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms governing protein complex assembly.
  • Examination of DNA packaging and ejection processes.

Main Results:

  • The head-to-tail interface is a multiprotein complex crucial for phage viability.
  • This complex locks viral DNA within the capsid, ensuring correct positioning for release.
  • It mediates controlled DNA ejection upon interaction with host cell receptors.

Conclusions:

  • The portal vertex and head-to-tail interface are essential for tailed phage infection.
  • Understanding these molecular mechanisms provides insights into viral replication strategies.
  • This review consolidates knowledge on the assembly and function of this vital viral component.