Publication details
Baseplate Structure of Bacteriophage Phi812 and Mechanism of Cell Wall Binding and Penetration
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2021 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus cause human infections that are difficult to treat and can lead to death. Bacteriophage (phage) phi812K1/420 from the family Myoviridae infects 95% of clinical isolates of S. aureus and therefore is a promising candidate for a phage therapy agent. As the native phage particle approaches its host cell, phage receptor-binding proteins make a contact with the host cell wall. This interaction triggers a cascade of structural changes in the baseplate resulting in phage tail contraction and genome ejection. Mechanistic description of the baseplate re-organization, however, remains unknown. Methods: Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we studied the baseplate of the phage phi812K1/420. Also, selected proteins involved in the host cell wall binding and penetration were produced in recombinant form and their structures were solved using X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM single-particle reconstruction. Results: We reconstructed the phage baseplate in native and contracted states. The reconstruction of the native baseplate reaches resolution of 4 A, which enables us to discern individual protein structures. Solved protein structures will be fitted into reconstruction of the contracted baseplate. Conclusion: Our results provide first structural characterization of contractile phage infecting a Gram-positive bacterium. Comparison of the two distinct baseplate states will allow us to describe molecular mechanism of initial stage of phage infection in detail. |
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