Download MendeleyStructural basis of bacteriophage Ur-lambda infection initiation.
Yu, H., Wang, C., Yue, J., Guo, W., Molineux, I.J., Liu, J.(2025) Sci Adv 11: eadw7914-eadw7914
- PubMed: 41237242
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adw7914
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
9E7M, 9MGH - PubMed Abstract:
Bacteriophages must recognize host receptors and penetrate the host cell envelope to initiate infection. How the classic phage λ initiates infection is not yet understood. Here, we combine cryo-electron microscopy and tomography to visualize infection initiation by Ur-λ, the original λ isolate that uses side fibers to adsorb rapidly to Escherichia coli . We determine the structure of Ur-λ, resolving the full-length central and side fibers, thus providing a structural basis for host recognition. We show that Ur-λ contains six copies of its tape measure protein. We capture intermediates of the tail tip complex during infection initiation, revealing how extensive conformational changes enable adsorption, and visualize the trans-envelope channel required for genome ejection.
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Organizational Affiliation:
