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Holin of bacteriophage lambda: structural insights into a membrane lesion
Author(s) -
Krupovič Mart,
Bamford Dennis H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06335.x
Subject(s) - biology , bacteriophage , lysis , membrane , cytoplasm , dna , inner membrane , bacterial outer membrane , lambda , cell membrane , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , physics , escherichia coli , gene , optics
Summary 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.