A model for fd phage penetration and assembly.
Below 15 degrees C, chloroform causes fd phage to contract to I-forms, which are compact structures about 1/3 as long as the original phage. Above 15 degrees C, chloroform causes I-forms to contract to even more compact spheroidal S-forms. Here we show that the coat protein structure in I-forms is the same as the protein structure in the phage and the protein structure in S-forms is the same as the protein structure in bilayers. The conversions from fd----I-forms----S-forms are therefore suggested to mimic steps in fd penetration. The same conversions, in reverse order, are suggested to mimic steps in fd assembly.
Dunker
A K
AK
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Washington State University, Pullman 99164.
Ensign
L D
LD
Arnold
G E
GE
Roberts
L M
LM
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman