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Bacteriophage SPO1 structure and morphogenesis. I. Tail structure and length regulation
Journal of Virology
|April 1, 1983
Summary
Structural analysis of bacteriophage SPO1 reveals its contractile tail organization. Tail length regulation is linked to the addition of single disk subunits, impacting virion structure and function.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Virology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bacteriophage SPO1 is a complex virus with a unique DNA base containing hydroxymethyl uracil.
- Understanding virion organization is crucial for deciphering phage-host interactions and replication mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the virion organization of bacteriophage SPO1, focusing on its contractile tail structure.
- To investigate the mechanism of tail length regulation in SPO1.
Main Methods:
- Structural and chemical analysis of bacteriophage SPO1 virions.
- Mutational analysis of gene 8 to study tail assembly and length.
Main Results:
- The SPO1 tail sheath is composed of stacked disks with subunits arranged in parallel helices.
- Tail contraction involves a structural rearrangement of the baseplate into a hexameric pinwheel.
- A gene 8 mutation affects tail length, suggesting disk subunits regulate length, with a minimal increment of one disk.
Conclusions:
- The structural arrangement of subunits in SPO1 tails is conserved across different lengths.
- Tail length regulation in SPO1 is determined by the assembly of discrete disk subunits.
- Findings provide insights into the assembly and contractile mechanisms of complex bacteriophages.