Mycobacteriophage Fruitloop gp52 inactivates Wag31 (DivIVA) to prevent heterotypic superinfection

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Expression of gene 52 of mycobacteriophage Fruitloop leads to death of Mycobacterium smegmatis. Fruitloop gp52 is a 93‐residue protein that interacts with Wag31, a host protein proposed to be an organizer of cell wall biosynthetic machinery at the growing pole of the cell. Wag31 is an essential gene in M. smegmatis and a potential target for anti‐tuberculosis drugs. Fruitloop gp52 is expressed in lytic growth and inactivates Wag31, preventing superinfection by Wag31‐dependent phages.
Source: Molecular Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research