scholarly journals The mechanism of DNA ejection in the Bacillus anthracis spore-binding phage 8a revealed by cryo-electron tomography

Virology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 421 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Fu ◽  
Michael H. Walter ◽  
Angel Paredes ◽  
Marc C. Morais ◽  
Jun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Dna Ejection ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography

scholarly journals The Bacteriophage T7 Virion Undergoes Extensive Structural Remodeling During Infection

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 339 (6119) ◽  
pp. 576-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Hu ◽  
William Margolin ◽  
Ian J. Molineux ◽  
Jun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Dna Ejection ◽  
Phage Tail ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography ◽  
Surface Receptor ◽  
Host Cell Surface ◽  
Tail Fibers

Adsorption and genome ejection are fundamental to the bacteriophage life cycle, yet their molecular mechanisms are not well understood. We used cryo–electron tomography to capture T7 virions at successive stages of infection ofEscherichia coliminicells at ~4-nm resolution. The six phage tail fibers were folded against the capsid, extending and orienting symmetrically only after productive adsorption to the host cell surface. Receptor binding by the tail triggered conformational changes resulting in the insertion of an extended tail, which functions as the DNA ejection conduit into the cell cytoplasm. After ejection, the extended phage tail collapsed or disassembled, which allowed resealing of the infected cell membrane. These structural studies provide a detailed series of intermediates during phage infection.

scholarly journals Determining the Patchwork Lattice of Ebola and Marburg Virus Matrix Layers Using Cryo-Electron Tomography

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1884-1884
Author(s):  
William Wan ◽  
Mairi Clarke ◽  
Michael Norris ◽  
Larissa Kolesnikova ◽  
Alexander Koehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography

scholarly journals Tubulin glycylation controls axonemal dynein activity, flagellar beat, and male fertility

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 371 (6525) ◽  
pp. eabd4914
Author(s):  
Sudarshan Gadadhar ◽  
Gonzalo Alvarez Viar ◽  
Jan Niklas Hansen ◽  
An Gong ◽  
Aleksandr Kostarev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Flagellar Beat ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography ◽  
Axonemal Dynein ◽  
Dynein Arms ◽  
Cilia And Flagella

Posttranslational modifications of the microtubule cytoskeleton have emerged as key regulators of cellular functions, and their perturbations have been linked to a growing number of human pathologies. Tubulin glycylation modifies microtubules specifically in cilia and flagella, but its functional and mechanistic roles remain unclear. In this study, we generated a mouse model entirely lacking tubulin glycylation. Male mice were subfertile owing to aberrant beat patterns of their sperm flagella, which impeded the straight swimming of sperm cells. Using cryo–electron tomography, we showed that lack of glycylation caused abnormal conformations of the dynein arms within sperm axonemes, providing the structural basis for the observed dysfunction. Our findings reveal the importance of microtubule glycylation for controlled flagellar beating, directional sperm swimming, and male fertility.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document