Involvement of ion channels in the transport of phage DNA through the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli.
Upon infection, phage DNA is transported through the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This crossing is accompanied by a transient increase in the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane toward ions and small solutes. This has led several authors to propose that DNA might cross the cytoplasmic membrane through channels. In the first part of the review we present data that we obtained with phage T4 and that strongly support this proposal. We then present the structural and ionic characteristics of these channels. In the second part, we summarize data obtained by several authors concerning the permeability changes induced by different phages and show that these results are compatible with a model of phage DNA transfer through channels. Finally, we discuss the possible origin of these channels.
Letellier
L
L
Laboratoire des Biomembranes, UA 1116, Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France.
Boulanger
P
P
D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D007474:Ion Exchange; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008954:Models, Biological; D013604:T-Phages / Q000378:metabolism
D004279:DNA, Viral; D007473:Ion Channels