Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Following Cell-fate in E. coli After Infection by Phage Lambda
Published on: October 14, 2011
The Lysis Genes of the Paradigm Phage SP6
Prasanth Manohar1,2, Ry Young1,2
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Background:
The Salmonella podophage SP6 has been extensively studied as a divergent relative of T7 and as a prototype for therapeutic applications. Two decades ago, it underwent two comprehensive genomic investigations and was among the first phage GenBank files converted into RefSeq entries. Recent experimental and genomic research has shown that the annotation of the lysis genes in the SP6 genome and, consequently, in the large SP6-like phage family, is outdated.
Materials And Methods:
We employed bioinformatic analysis to identify the lysis genes within the SP6 genome. The anticipated genes were subsequently evaluated with the λ complementation method to verify the lysis characteristics.
Results:
Our functional study identifies SP6_gp39 as holin, SP6_gp46 as an endolysin, and SP6_gp47 and gp56 as i-spanin and o-spanin, respectively.
Conclusion:
Here, we present a revised whole-genome analysis and a set of experiments that identify the components of the Multi-Gene Lysis genes for this paradigm phage.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Bacteriophages
Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages
Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle
CRISPR and crRNAs
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...

