Structural basis of bacteriophage Ur-lambda infection initiation

作者：Huaxin Yu, Chunyan Wang, Jian Yue, Wangbiao Guo, Ian J. Molineux, Jun Liu · 发表于：Science Advances · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1126/sciadv.adw7914 · 被引用次数：10 · 研究领域：Bacteriophages and microbial interactions、Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Bacteriophages must recognize host receptors and penetrate the host cell envelope to initiate infection. How the classic phage λ initiates infection is not yet understood. Here, we combine cryo–electron microscopy and tomography to visualize infection initiation by Ur-λ, the original λ isolate that uses side fibers to adsorb rapidly to Escherichia coli . We determine the structure of Ur-λ, resolving the full-length central and side fibers, thus providing a structural basis for host recognition. We show that Ur-λ contains six copies of its tape measure protein. We capture intermediates of the tail tip complex during infection initiation, revealing how extensive conformational changes enable adsorption, and visualize the trans-envelope channel required for genome ejection.