Holin of bacteriophage lambda: structural insights into a membrane lesion.
The length of the infection cycle of double-stranded DNA bacteriophages is controlled by phage-encoded small integral membrane proteins, holins. Holins are the gatekeepers of the lysis process, possessing an intriguing ability to be triggered, at a precise time point, to form large holes in the cytoplasmic membrane of phage-infected bacteria. The paper by Savva et al. in this issue of Molecular Microbiology invites us to take a closer look at this membrane lesion. For the first time, a structural characterization of large-diameter rings formed by these peculiar membrane proteins is presented.
Krupovic
Mart
M
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Institute of Biotechnology, Biocenter 2, PO Box 56, Viikinkaari 5, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
Bamford
Dennis H
DH
D001433:Bacteriolysis; D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000821:virology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C108624:S holin, bacteriophage lambda; D014764:Viral Proteins