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Bacteriophage T7 is a bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria. It infects most strains of Escherichia coli and relies on these hosts to propagate. Bacteriophage T7 has a lytic life cycle, meaning that it destroys the cell it infects. It also possesses several properties that make it an ideal phage for experimentation: its purification and concentration have produced consistent values in chemical analyses; it can be rendered noninfectious by exposure to UV light; and it can be used in phage display to clone RNA binding proteins.
Holins are a diverse group of small proteins produced by dsDNA bacteriophages in order to trigger and control the degradation of the host's cell wall at the end of the lytic cycle. Holins form pores in the host's cell membrane, allowing lysins to reach and degrade peptidoglycan, a component of bacterial cell walls. Holins have been shown to regulate the timing of lysis with great precision. Over 50 unrelated gene families encode holins, making them the most diverse group of proteins with common function. Together with lysins, holins are being studied for their potential use as antibacterial agents.
The Phi11 Holin Family constitutes the Holin Superfamily I.
The Phage 21 S Family is a member of the Holin Superfamily II.
The HP1 Holin Family is a member of the Holin Superfamily II. Proteins in this family are typically found to contain two transmembrane segments (TMSs) and range between 70 and 80 amino acyl residues (aas) in length. A representative list of proteins belonging to the HP1 holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Lambda Holin S Family is a group of integral membrane transporter proteins belonging to the Holin Superfamily III. Members of this family generally consist of the characteristic three transmembrane segments (TMSs) and are of 110 amino acyl residues (aas) in length, on average. A representative list of members belonging to this family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Bacillus subtilis φ29 Holin Family is a group of transporters belonging to the Holin Superfamily IV. A representative list of members belonging to the φ29 holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Mycobacterial 2 TMS Phage Holin Family is a group of transporters belonging to the Holin Superfamily VII. The Mycobactrerial 2 transmembrane segment (TMS) Holins have been identified and recognized by Catalao et al (2012). The Mycobacterium phage D29 gp11 protein is a holin that, upon expression, rapidly kills both E. coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Shortening gp11 from its C-terminus resulted in diminished cytotoxicity and smaller holes. The two TMSs at the N-terminus alone do not integrate into the cytoplasmic membrane and do not show toxicity. Fusion of the two TMSs and a small C-terminal coiled-coil region resulted in restoration of cell killing. The second TMS is dispensable for toxicity. The gp11 C-terminal region is therefore necessary but not sufficient for toxicity.
The T4 Holin Family is a group of putative pore-forming proteins that does not belong to one of the seven holin superfamilies. T-even phage such as T4 use a holin-endolysin system for host cell lysis. Although the endolysin of phage T4 encoded by the e gene was identified in 1961, the holin was not characterized until 2001. A representative list of proteins belonging to the T4 holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The BlyA Holin Family is a group of holin proteins that are approximately 55-70 amino acyl residues (aas) in length and exhibit one transmembrane segment (TMS). A representative list of the proteins belonging to the BlyA holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Lactococcus lactis Phage r1t Holin Family is a family of putative pore-forming proteins that typically range in size between about 65 and 95 amino acyl residues (aas) in length, although a few r1t holins have been found to be significantly larger. Phage r1t holins exhibit between 2 and 4 transmembrane segments (TMSs), with the 4 TMS proteins resulting from an intragenic duplication of a 2 TMS region. A representative list of the proteins belonging to the r1t holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The SPP1 Holin Family consists of proteins of between 90 and 160 amino acyl residues (aas) in length that exhibit two transmembrane segments (TMSs). SPP1 is a double-stranded DNA phage that infects the Gram-positive bacteria. Although annotated as holins, members of the SPP1 family are not yet functionally characterized. A representative list of proteins belonging to the SPP1 Holin family can be found in Transporter Classification Database.
The Mycobacterial 1 TMS Phage Holin Family was identified and recognized by Catalao et al. (2012). Members of this family are found in mycobacterial phage, exhibit a single transmembrane segment (TMSs), and are about 75 to 95 amino acyl residues in length. Although annotated as holins, members of this family are not yet functionally characterized. A representative list of proteins belonging to this family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Phage T1 Holin Family is represented in enterobacterial phages T1, RTP and F20, Klebsiella phage KP36, and Escherichia phage ADB-2. All of these possess a putative holin that share a high level of identity. Additionally, Gp9 of E. coli phage phiE49 is similar in sequence. These proteins are short, 55 to 71 amino acyl residues (aas) in length, and exhibit a single transmembrane segment (TMS). A representative list of proteins belonging to the T1 Holin family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Staphylococcusphage P68 Putative Holin Family consists of a single putative holin from Staphylococcus aureus phage P68 that is 92 amino acyl residues (aas) in length and exhibits 2 transmembrane segments (TMSs). While annotated as a holin, this protein has not been functionally characterized.[2]
The CaulobacterPhage Holin (CauHol) Family consists of several putative holins of 157 to 159 amino acyl residues (aas) in length that exhibit 2 transmembrane segments (TMSs). They derive from phage specific for Caulobacter species. These proteins are not functionally characterized. A representative list of proteins belonging to the CauHol family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Putative Listeria Phage Holin (LP-Hol) Family consists of several small proteins of 41 amino acyl residues (aas) and 1 transmembrane segment (TMS). They can be found in several Listeria phage as well as in Listeria monocytogenes. While annotated as holins, these proteins remain functionally uncharacterized. A representative list of proteins belonging to the LP-Hol family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
Gene transfer agent-release holins are holins which are believed to facilitate the lysis-dependent release of a gene transfer agent. Particularly the gene transfer agent of Rhodobacter capsulatus (RcGTA), which is known to be a bacteriophage-like genetic element that induces horizontal gene transfer. The promoter of the RcGTA gene was identified by Westbye et al. in 2013. A representative list of members belonging to the GTA-Hol family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database with homologues found in Pseudomonadota and caudovirales.
The Actinobacterial Phage Holin (APH) Family is a fairly large family of proteins between 105 and 180 amino acyl residues in length, typically exhibiting a single transmembrane segment (TMS) near the N-terminus. A representative list of proteins belonging to the APH family can be found in the Transporter Classification Database.
The Enterobacterial Holin (EBHol) Family consists of many closely related proteins of 100 to 120 amino acyl residues (aas) in length with a single C-terminal transmembrane segment (TMS). They derive from γ-proteobacteria of many genera: Salmonella, Escherichia, Klebsiella and Photorhabdus, and their phage. As of March 2016, these proteins have not been functionally characterized. A representative list of proteins belonging to the EBHol family can be found in the Transporter Classififcation Database.
References
- ↑ "1.E.6 The T7 Holin (T7 Holin) Family". Transporter Classification Database. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
