title: The phage phi29 membrane protein p16.7, involved in DNA replication, is required for efficient ejection of the viral genome.
abstract: It is becoming clear that in vivo phage DNA ejection is not a mere passive process. In most cases, both phage and host proteins seem to be involved in pulling at least part of the viral DNA inside the cell. The DNA ejection mechanism of Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi29 is a two-step process where the linear DNA penetrates the cell with a right-left polarity. In the first step approximately 65% of the DNA is pushed into the cell. In the second step, the remaining DNA is actively pulled into the cytoplasm. This step requires protein p17, which is encoded by the right-side early operon that is ejected during the first push step. The membrane protein p16.7, also encoded by the right-side early operon, is known to play an important role in membrane-associated phage DNA replication. In this work we show that, in addition, p16.7 is required for efficient execution of the second pull step of DNA ejection.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología Molecular Eladio Viñuela, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma, Canto Blanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcorlo
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: González-Huici
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hermoso
authors.forename: Wilfried J J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salas
mesh_terms: D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000821:virology; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C117368:phage phi29, protein p17; C433528:protein p16.7, bacterophage phi29