Mechanisms responsible for a PhiX174 mutant's ability to infect Escherichia coli by phosphorylation.
The ability for a virus to expand its host range is dependent upon a successful mode of viral entry. As such, the host range of the well-studied PhiX174 bacteriophage is dictated by the presence of a particular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the bacterial surface. The mutant PhiX174 strain JACS-K, unlike its ancestor, is capable of infecting both its native host Escherichia coli C and E. coli K-12, which does not have the necessary LPS. The conversion of an alanine to a very reactive threonine on its virion surface was found to be responsible for the strain's expanded host range.
Cox
Jennifer
J
Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan, LSB 317, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.
Putonti
Catherine
C
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000821:virology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053585:Virus Attachment
D014764:Viral Proteins