The phage lambda major tail protein structure reveals a common evolution for long-tailed phages and the type VI bacterial secretion system.
Pell, L.G., Kanelis, V., Donaldson, L.W., Howell, P.L., Davidson, A.R.(2009) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106: 4160-4165
- PubMed: 19251647 
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0900044106
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2K4Q - PubMed Abstract: 
Most bacteriophages possess long tails, which serve as the conduit for genome delivery. We report the solution structure of the N-terminal domain of gpV, the protein comprising the major portion of the noncontractile phage lambda tail tube. This structure is very similar to a previously solved tail tube protein from a contractile-tailed phage, providing the first direct evidence of an evolutionary connection between these 2 distinct types of phage tails ...