The mobility of packaged phage genome controls ejection dynamics.

ABSTRACT: The cell decision between lytic and lysogenic infection is strongly influenced by dynamics of DNA injection into a cell from a phage population, as phages compete for limited resources and progeny. However, what controls the timing of viral DNA ejection events was not understood. This in vitro study reveals that DNA ejection dynamics for phages can be synchronized (occurring within seconds) or desynchronized (displaying minutes-long delays in initiation) based on mobility of encapsidated DNA, which in turn is regulated by environmental factors, such as temperature and extra-cellular ionic conditions. This mechano-regulation of ejection dynamics is suggested to influence viral replication where the cell's decision between lytic and latent infection is associated with synchronized or desynch

SUBMITTER: Evilevitch A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6122950 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature