Biochemical and structural characterisation of membrane-containing icosahedral dsDNA bacteriophages infecting thermophilic Thermus thermophilus

Virology. 2008 Sep 15;379(1):10-9. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.06.023. Epub 2008 Jul 25.

Abstract

Icosahedral dsDNA viruses isolated from hot springs and proposed to belong to the Tectiviridae family infect the gram-negative thermophilic Thermus thermophilus bacterium. Seven such viruses were obtained from the Promega Corporation collection. The structural protein patterns of three of these viruses, growing to a high titer, appeared very similar but not identical. The most stable virus, P23-77, was chosen for more detailed studies. Analysis of highly purified P23-77 by thin layer chromatography for neutral lipids showed lipid association with the virion. Cryo-EM based three-dimensional image reconstruction of P23-77 to 1.4 nm resolution revealed an icosahedrally-ordered protein coat, with spikes on the vertices, and an internal membrane. The capsid architecture of P23-77 is most similar to that of the archaeal virus SH1. These findings further complicate the grouping of icosahedrally-symmetric viruses containing an inner membrane. We propose a single superfamily or order with members in several viral families.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophages / chemistry*
  • Bacteriophages / classification
  • Bacteriophages / isolation & purification
  • Bacteriophages / ultrastructure*
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Hot Springs / virology
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Tectiviridae / chemistry*
  • Tectiviridae / classification
  • Tectiviridae / isolation & purification
  • Tectiviridae / ultrastructure*
  • Thermus thermophilus / virology*
  • Viral Plaque Assay
  • Viral Structural Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Virion / chemistry
  • Virion / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Viral Structural Proteins