Phage Lambda CIII: A Protease Inhibitor Regulating the Lysis-Lysogeny Decision
Author Information
Author(s): Kobiler Oren, Rokney Assaf, Oppenheim Amos B.
Primary Institution: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
Hypothesis
CIII oligomerization is required for its function as a competitive inhibitor of FtsH.
Conclusion
CIII enhances CII stability and promotes the lysogenic response by inhibiting the FtsH protease.
Supporting Evidence
- CIII is present as oligomeric amphipathic α helical structures.
- CIII acts as a competitive inhibitor of FtsH by preventing binding of the CII substrate.
- Real-time analysis shows that CIII enhances CII stability and the lysogenic response.
- Genetic experiments confirmed that the CIII bacteriostatic effects are due to inhibition of FtsH.
Takeaway
CIII is a protein that helps a virus called lambda phage decide whether to destroy a bacterial cell or live inside it. It does this by stopping a specific protein from breaking down important parts of the virus.
Methodology
The study involved in vitro assays to analyze the structure and function of CIII, including proteolysis assays and cross-linking experiments.
Limitations
The study does not address the potential existence of other CIII-like proteins in different phages.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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