3RB8

Structure of the phage tubulin PhuZ(SeMet)-GDP

Summary for 3RB8

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb3rb8/pdb
• Related: 3R4V
• Descriptor: Putative uncharacterized protein, GUANOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE, MAGNESIUM ION, ... (4 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: tubulin, unknown function
• Biological source: Pseudomonas phage 201phi2-1
• Total number of polymer chains: 1
• Total formula weight: 35458.12

Authors

Agard, D.A.,Pogliano, J.,Kraemer, J.A.,Erb, M.L.,Waddling, C.A.,Montabana, E.A.,Wang, H.,Nguyen, K.,Pham, S. (deposition date: 2011-03-28, release date: 2012-07-04, Last modification date: 2024-11-20)

Primary citation

Kraemer, J.A.,Erb, M.L.,Waddling, C.A.,Montabana, E.A.,Zehr, E.A.,Wang, H.,Nguyen, K.,Pham, D.S.,Agard, D.A.,Pogliano, J.
A phage tubulin assembles dynamic filaments by an atypical mechanism to center viral DNA within the host cell.
Cell(Cambridge,Mass.), 149:1488-1499, 2012

PubMed Abstract: Tubulins are essential for the reproduction of many eukaryotic viruses, but historically, bacteriophage were assumed not to require a cytoskeleton. Here, we identify a tubulin-like protein, PhuZ, from bacteriophage 201φ2-1 and show that it forms filaments in vivo and in vitro. The PhuZ structure has a conserved tubulin fold, with an unusual, extended C terminus that we demonstrate to be critical for polymerization in vitro and in vivo. Longitudinal packing in the crystal lattice mimics packing observed by EM of in-vitro-formed filaments, indicating how interactions between the C terminus and the following monomer drive polymerization. PhuZ forms a filamentous array that is required for positioning phage DNA within the bacterial cell. Correct positioning to the cell center and optimal phage reproduction only occur when the PhuZ filament is dynamic. Thus, we show that PhuZ assembles a spindle-like array that functions analogously to the microtubule-based spindles of eukaryotes.

PubMed: 22726436
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.04.034

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.6 Å)