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The right end of transposable bacteriophage D108 contains a 520 base pair protein-encoding sequence not present in bacteriophage Mu.

We have cloned and characterized the right end terminal 796 bp of the transposable Mu-like bacteriophage D108. This region encompasses a 520 bp region of D108-specific sequences not present in phage Mu that contain an open reading frame encoding a 12 KDa protein. This protein can be visualized in vivo when the region is placed downstream from the strong lac UV5 promoter. The open reading frame can be expressed from the dam-regulated mod promoter (for modification of D108 DNA), yet also contains its own dam-independent promoter for expression that is detectable by northern blot analysis late in the D108 lytic cycle. Comparison of this region of D108 DNA with the corresponding region of Mu DNA suggests that a complex rearrangement has occurred at the phages' right ends during their evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. A polynucleotide-dependent polynucleotide-pyrophosphorylase activity in bacteriophage PM2.

A polymerase activity is associated with protein IV, a protein which is associated with the DNA in bacteriophage PM2. The native enzyme unit is probably a dimer. Manganese ions are required for the polymerisation reaction and there is a well-defined Mn2+ optimum at 2.5 mM. The pH optimum is at 8.1, the temperature optimum at 28 degrees C. The activity is a polynucleotide-pyrophosphorylating reaction in the presence of ribo- or deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The polymerisation reaction is stimulated in the presence of nuclei- acids or polynucleotides as effectors. The product is not covalently linked to the effector.

Bacteriophages↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. Chemical modifications of bacteriophage PM2 and the resulting alterations in acyl-chain motion in the PM2 membrane.

The nucleocapsid proteins of bacteriophage PM2 and the inner lamella of the lipid bilayer, containing most of the phosphatidlethanolamine residues, were selectively cross-linked in the presence of 0.1-0.5% glutaraldehyde, 5 mM dimethylsuberimidate, or 0.05% toluene 2,4-diisocyanate. The biological activity (p.f.u.) of PM2 modified by these reagents decreased 10(6)-fold in all cases. The spike and coat proteins were selectively cross-linked in the presence of 7.5 mM N,N'-p-phenylenedimaleimide. The biological activity of virus modified by this reagen was unaffected. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of fatty acid spin labels incorporated into native and chemically modified viral membranes were qualitatively similar but show quantitative differences. Fixation with glutaraldehyde increased the rigidity of the membrane while Triton X-100 induced a more flexible structure. There was no change in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of virus treated with N,N'-p-phenylenedimaleimide, however.

Bacteriophages↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. Effects of lipids containing cis or trans fatty acids on the reconstitution of bacteriophage PM2.

Infectious PM2 virus paticles could be reconstituted in vitro from a mixture of nucleocapsid, phospholipids containing cis fatty acids, and proteins I and II. The presence or absence of acyl phosphatidylglycerol, a minor lipid component of thevirion, did not affect the reconstitution of infectious particles, even though it was incorporated into the particles when present. When phosphatidylglycerol was completely replaced by acyl phosphatidylglycerol in the reconstitution mixture, no infections particles were formed. Lipids containing either cis or trans fatty acids were also used for reconstitution in vitro of the lipid-containing bacteriophage PM2. Regardless of the ratio of phosphatidlyglycerol to phospatidylethanolamine in the reconstitution mixture, infectious particles were formed and had almost the same phospholipid composition when lipids containing cis-palmitoleic acid were used; no infectious particles were obtained when lipids containing trans-palmitoleic acid were used. In the latter case, virus-like particles were, however, formed. Reconstituted particles containing cis fatty acids were infectious when tested on wild type Pseudomonas BAL-31 as well as on the unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph grown in the presence of either cis or trans-palmitoleic acid. Reconstituted particles containing trans fatty acids were not infectious on any of these cells. When trans fatty acids as well as cis fatty acids were present in the reconstitution mixture, then there was a lower yield of infectious particles. Particles with either cis or trans fatty acids had all four viral proteins and adsorbed to BAL-31 host cells in a specific manner.

Bacteriophages↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. Dissociation of bacteriophage PM2 into its morphological subunits.

The lipid-containing bacteriophage PM2 was dissociated stepwise in 1 M NcCl (pH 7.2)with increasing urea concentrations. In 2 M urea the following substructures could be identified: (a) a nucleocapsid containing all of the viral lipid, the DNA, proteins III and IV, plus a fraction of protein II, and (b) a second substructure respresenting particles which contained all viral elements except protein I, the spike protein. In 4 M urea the viral nucleocapsid containing all of proteins III and IV, the DNA, plus a fraction of protein II, was isolated. Upon increasing the urea concentration further, this nucleocapsid is stable up to 8.5 M urea; in 9 M urea protein III was partly dissociated from the nucleocapsid. The nucleocapsid in 4--8.5 M urea is stabilized by the addition of 0.1--3 M NaCl but dissociates if the NaCl concentration is less than 0.1 M. The nucleocapsid was also dissociated in 4--8.5 M urea at pH 4.5. The nucleocapsid structures and some intermediate morphological subunits have been analysed by physical methods, enabling us to draw some conclusions about the structure and hydration of the virus.

Amino Acids↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. Studies on the structure of the bacteriophage PM2 nucleocapsid.

The nucleocapsid of bacteriophage PM2, prepared according to Schäfer et al. [Eur. J. Biochem. 92, 579-588 (1978)], was studied by biochemical and biophysical methods. It was not possible to isolate the lipid-free nucleocapsid. More than 95% of the lipids were associated with the nucleocapsid. The asymmetric distribution of phospholipids across the viral membrane was retained in the nucleocapsid since less than 10% of the phosphatidylethanolamine was accessible to the non-penetrable membrane probe, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate. Micro-dissection of the nucleocapsid with thermolysin demonstrated the asymmetric orientation of core proteins across the nucleocapsid membrane. Protein III was embedded deeply in the lipid bilayer and about 20% of the molecule extended to the exterior. Protein IV interacts with PM2 DNA and is partially in the inner leaflet of the bilayer. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies on the nucleocapsid enabled us to localize the lipid bilayer structure at radii from 20.5 nm to 24.0 nm.

Bacteriophages↗

Structure and synthesis of a lipid-containing bacteriophage. Amphiphilic properties of protein IV of bacteriophage PM2.

Interactions between lipids and the DNA-binding protein (protein IV) purified from bacteriophage PM2 were studied in vitro. The efficiency of incorporation of protein IV into single-walled liposomes was more than 90%. Protein IV embedded in liposomes interacted more strongly with PM2 DNA than protein IV alone. The DNA--protein-IV--liposome complex was relatively stable as observed by sedimentation behavior on a sucrose gradient. The interaction between DNA and the protein-IV--liposome was abolished by tryptic digestion, even though 40% of the protein remained in the vesicle. More than 70% of the amino acids of this embedded peptide segment were hydrophobic. Carboxypeptidase digestion of the protein-IV--liposome caused a release of 20% of the radioactivity of the vesicle without changing the DNA-binding ability of the complexes. Modification of the protein-IV--liposome with the chemical probe, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, and analysis of the tryptic peptides released from the protein-IV--liposome demonstrated that the N-terminal basic amino acid cluster segment responsible for the DNA binding was located on the outer surface of the bilayer. These results support an earlier model in which protein IV anchors itself in the inner leaflet of the PM2 bilayer membrane, interacting with the DNA in the virion.

Bacteriophages↗

Taxonomic differentiation of 101 lactococcal bacteriophages and characterization of bacteriophages with unusually large genomes.

Sixty-three virulent bacteriophages of Lactococcus lactis were differentiated by DNA-DNA hybridization. The results, including those of a previous classification of 38 phages of the same bacterial species (P. Relano, M. Mata, M. Bonneau, and P. Ritzenthaler, J. Gen. Microbiol. 133:3053-3063, 1987) show that 48% of the phages analyzed belong to a unique DNA homology group (group III). Phages of this most abundant group had small isometric heads. Group I comprised 29% of the phages analyzed and was characterized by a small phage genome (19 to 22 kilobases) and a particular morphology with a prolate head. Like group III, this group contained representative phages of other classifications. Group II (21%) included virulent and temperate phages with small isometric heads. Two large isometric-headed phages, phi 109 and phi 111, were not related to the three DNA homology groups I, II, and III. The genome of phi 111 was unusually large (134 kilobases) and revealed partial DNA homology with another large isometric phage, 1289, described by Jarvis (type e) (A. W. Jarvis, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47:343-349, 1984). The protein compositions of phi 111 and 1289 were similar (three common major proteins of 21, 28, and 32 kilodaltons).

Bacteriophages↗

Reproducibility of staphylococcal bacteriophage types by use of different concentrations of bacteriophage.

A comparative investigation was carried out on the reproducibility of staphylococcal bacteriophage types at 100 routine test dilution (RTD) and at the conventional concentrations, RTD and 1,000 RTD. The comparison includes multiple typing of laboratory strains and duplicate isolates from hospital patients. No significant difference was found in the reproducibility of the types at the different concentrations. A single concentration corresponding to 100 RTD is recommended for routine use in phage typing as a possible substitute for typing with two different concentrations.

Bacteriophage Typing↗

A polypeptide bacteriophage receptor: modified cell wall protein subunits in bacteriophage-resistant mutants of Bacillus sphaericus strain P-1.

Bacillus sphaericus strain P-1 has previously been shown to have a tetragonally arrayed (T layer) protein which forms the outer layer of the cell wall. The T layer was quantitatively extracted from whole cells by 6 M urea, and the T layer subunits were purified by electrophoresis of the extracts on acrylamide gels containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate or 6 M urea. Using ethylene diacrylate cross-linked gels, the T layer was found to make up 16% of the total cellular protein. A virulent bacteriophage which is inactivated by purified T layer was isolated from soil. Twenty-four phage-resistant mutants were isolated, of which 17 had T layer subunits of increased mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gels. No mutants devoid of T layer were found. Mutants were grouped into six classes according to the molecular weight of their T layer subunits. These ranged from that of the wild type, 150,000 down to 86,000. Two mutants from different classes were examined in detail. Cells of the mutant strains did not adsorb phage nor did cell walls isolated from these mutants inactivate phage. The amino acid composition of the T layers from mutants differed little from that of the wild-type T layer.

Adsorption↗

Biochemical characterization of a murein hydrolase induced by bacteriophage Dp-1 in Streptococcus pneumoniae: comparative study between bacteriophage-associated lysin and the host amidase.

A phage-associated lysin recently isolated and purified from Streptococcus pneumoniae infected with bacteriophage Dp-1 has been biochemically characterized as an endo-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanine amidase. The purified peptides obtained after treatment of the cell wall with phage-associated lysin are composed of glutamic acid, alanine, lysine, glycine, serine, and aspartic acid in the molar ratios of 1.0:1.6:1.0:1.0:0.8:0.6. The N-terminal amino acid of this peptide has been characterized as alanine. This amidase and the inactive form of the amidase (E form) previously purified (J.V. Höltje and A. Tomasz, J. Biol. Chem. 251:4199-4207, 1976) from S. pneumoniae differ in their molecular weights, as well as in their capacity to be stimulated by reducing agents, and do not cross-react immunologically, although anti-phage-associated lysin serum was able to recognize and inhibit both phage-associated lysin and the active form (C form) of the host amidase.

Amidohydrolases↗

An open reading frame in the Escherichia coli bacteriophage lambda genome encodes a protein that functions in assembly of the long tail fibers of bacteriophage T4.

Assembly of the long tail fibers of the Escherichia coli bacteriophage T4 requires the catalytic action of two auxiliary proteins. It was found that a gene of the entirely unrelated phage lambda codes for a protein which can substitute for one of these T4 polypeptides, protein 38. The lambda gene was designated tfa (tail fiber assembly). Protein 38 consists of 183 residues, and the Tfa protein consists of 194 residues; the two polypeptides are about 40% homologous. Although the tfa gene is dispensable for the growth of phage lambda, these results indicate that it may have a function in lambda morphogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A component of the side tail fiber of Escherichia coli bacteriophage lambda can functionally replace the receptor-recognizing part of a long tail fiber protein of the unrelated bacteriophage T4.

The distal part of the long tail fiber of Escherichia coli bacteriophage T4 consists of a dimer of protein 37. Dimerization requires the catalytic action of protein 38, which is encoded by T4 and is not present in the virion. It had previously been shown that gene tfa of the otherwise entirely unrelated phage lambda can functionally replace gene 38. Open reading frame (ORF) 314, which encodes a protein that exhibits homology to a COOH-terminal area of protein 37, is located immediately upstream of tfa. The gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli. An antiserum against the corresponding polypeptide showed that it was present in phage lambda. The serum also reacted with the long tail fibers of phage T4 near their free ends. An area of the gene encoding a COOH-terminal region of ORF 314 was recombined, together with tfa, into the genome of T4, thus replacing gene 38 and a part of gene 37 that codes for a COOH-terminal part of protein 37. Such T4-lambda hybrids, unlike T4, required the presence of outer membrane protein OmpC for infection of E. coli B. An ompC missense mutant of E. coli K-12, which was still sensitive to T4, was resistant to these hybrids. We conclude that the ORF 314 protein represents a subunit of the side tail fibers of phage lambda which probably recognize the OmpC protein. ORF 314 was designated stf (side tail fiber). The results also offer an explanation for the very unusual fact that, despite identical genomic organizations, T4 and T2 produce totally different proteins 38. An ancestor of T4 from the T2 lineage may have picked up tfa and stf from a lambdoid phase, thus possibly demonstrating horizontal gene transfer between unrelated phage species.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Cloning, expression, and sequence determination of a bacteriophage fragment encoding bacteriophage resistance in Lactococcus lactis.

A number of host-encoded phage resistance mechanisms have been described in lactococci. However, the phage genome has not been exploited as a source of additional resistance determinants. A 4.5-kb BamHI-HindIII fragment of phage nck202.50 (phi 50) was subcloned in streptococcus-Escherichia coli shuttle plasmid pSA3 and introduced into Lactococcus lactis NCK203 and MG1363 by protoplast transformation. This cloned phage fragment directed a bacteriophage resistance phenotype designated Per (phage-encoded resistance). Both phi 50 and a distantly related phage, nck202.48 (phi 48), formed small plaques on strain NCK213 at a slightly reduced efficiency of plaquing on the Per+ host. The per locus was further reduced to a 1.4-kb fragment through in vitro deletion analysis. The 1.4-kb fragment was sequenced, and the Per phenotype was found to be associated with a ca. 500-bp region rich in direct and inverted repeats. We present evidence that the Per region contains a phage origin of replication which, in trans, may interfere with phage replication by titration of DNA polymerase or other essential replication factors. It was demonstrated that the Per+ phenotype is not a result of reduced adsorption or action of a restriction and modification system. Per+ activity was not detected against six independent phages which were previously shown to be sensitive to the Hsp+ mechanism. The mutually exclusive resistance mechanisms could be combined to confer resistance to both types of phages (Hsp resistant and Per resistant) in a single host. This is the first description in lactococci of a phage resistance phenotype, other than superinfection immunity, originating from a lactococcal phage genome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Host-bacteriophage interaction in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. I. Characterization of bacteriophage R4 and physiological changes in the infected host cell.

Infection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens B6, a tumor-producing plant pathogen, by bacteriophage R4, does not immediately shut off host deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein synthesis. Viral DNA synthesis begins soon after infection, but the host DNA is not shut off until after 35 min; net RNA and protein synthesis are not inhibited until 30 min after infection. The pattern of synthesis of phage particles was confirmed by electron microscopy of thin sections during the infection cycle. The phage particle consists of a polyhedral head, 65 nm in diameter, and a long flexible tail 210 nm long and 10 nm wide with helically arranged subunits. By gel electrophoresis, four major protein components with the following molecular weights were found in the capsid: 72,000, 45,000, 28,000, and 14,500. The phage DNA has a molecular weight of 30 million and a guanine-cytosine content of 59%.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Outgrowth of Bacillus cereus spores harboring bacteriophage CP-51 DNA. I. Initiation of bacteriophage development.

Time of initiation of bacteriophage CP-51 RNA synthesis, inhibition of host DNA synthesis, initiation of CP-51 DNA synthesis, and release of phage was determined in infected Bacillus cereus cells and outgrowing spores harboring phage DNA. The development of phage in outgrowing spores is initiated 45 min after induction of spore germination and then proceeds at a rate similar to that observed in infected cells. Although spore RNA synthesis is inhibited by the presence of chloramphenicol or puromycin during germination, these antibiotics do not inhibit initiation of phage DNA transcription in outgrowing spores.

Bacillus cereus↗

Replication of bacteriophage SH-133 in the facultative autotroph Hydrogenomonas facilis. I. Bacteriophage synthesis under heterotrophic, autotrophic, and mixotrophic growth conditions.

The ability of bacteriophage SH-133 to replicate in heterotrophically (H-) and autotrophically (A-) grown Hydrogenomonas facilis was examined. Both the synthesis of infectious phage particles and the efficiency of plating (EOP) were reduced by 90% in A-grown cells. Adsorption of phage and lethal effects on H. facilis were identical in both systems. One-step growth experiments showed that cell lysis preceded the appearance of infectious particles in A-grown cells. Burst size studies with mixotrophically grown cells did not indicate the presence of an inhibitor of phage synthesis indigenous to autotrophic metabolism. DNA synthesis was identical in H- and A-grown infected cells; however, protein synthesis was significantly reduced in A-grown infected cells when compared with protein synthesis in H-grown infected cells. The data suggest that the reduction in EOP and phage synthesis in A-grown cells is caused by a defect in viral protein synthesis which results in the limited production of an essential viral protein at the time of cell lysis.

Adsorption↗