Download MendeleyCryo-EM Structures of Phage T4 Infection Intermediate.
Shao, Q., Dong, J., Wang, A., Hu, H., Yue, J., Li, H., Li, Y., Zhang, Q., Liu, J., Sun, L., Fokine, A., Rao, V.B., Tao, P., Fang, Q.(2026) J Mol Biol 438: 169938-169938
- PubMed: 42401366 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2026.169938
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9UFN, 9X3O, 9X3P, 9X3Q, 9X3R, 9X3S, 9XA3 - PubMed Abstract:
Myophage is endowed with a sophisticated contractile tail and infection machinery. However, the mechanisms of host recognition, signal transduction, and genome delivery remain poorly understood. Here, we capture a pre-genome-release intermediate of myophage T4 and determine its structure by cryo-electron microscopy. Comparative analysis of this tail-contracted, pre-genome-release intermediate structure with the mature T4 virion and the tail-contracted, post-genome-release structure reveals structural transitions in the tail, tape-measure protein (TMP), baseplate, and long tail fibers that drive genome delivery. Our findings further suggest that tail sheath contraction is coupled to a coordinated repositioning of the viral DNA-TMP complex, potentially facilitating genome translocation via charge-mediated interactions. It appears that the expelled TMP may further reorganize into a putative transmembrane complex that supports genome delivery into the host cytosol.
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Organizational Affiliation:
