Structure and function of bacteriophage T4 #MMPMID25517898
Yap ML; Rossmann MG
Future Microbiol 2014[Oct]; 9 (ä): 1319-27 PMID25517898show ga
Bacteriophage T4 is the most well-studied member of Myoviridae, the most complex family of tailed phages. T4 assembly is divided into three independent pathways: the head, the tail and the long tail fibers. The prolate head encapsidates a 172 kbp concatemeric dsDNA genome. The 925 Å-long tail is surrounded by the contractile sheath and ends with a hexagonal baseplate. Six long tail fibers are attached to the baseplate?s periphery and are the host cell?s recognition sensors. The sheath and the baseplate undergo large conformational changes during infection. X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy have provided structural information on protein?protein and protein?nucleic acid interactions that regulate conformational changes during assembly and infection of Escherichia coli cells.