Baseplate Structure of Bacteriophage Phi812 and Mechanism of Cell Wall Binding and Penetration

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Authors

BÍŇOVSKÝ Ján ŠIBOROVÁ Marta NOVÁČEK Jiří VAN RAAIJ M. PLEVKA Pavel

Year of publication 2021
Type Conference abstract
MU Faculty or unit

Central European Institute of Technology

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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