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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Arbitrium-coding phages use peptides to communicate and coordinate the decision between lysis and lysogeny. However, the mechanism by which these phages establish lysogeny remains unknown. Here, focusing on the SPbeta phage family's model phages phi3T and SPbeta, we report that a six-gene operon called the "SPbeta phages repressor operon" (sro) expresses not one but two master repressors, SroE and SroF, the latter of which folds like a classical phage integrase. To promote lysogeny, these repressors bind to multiple sites in the phage genome. SroD serves as an auxiliary repressor that, with SroEF, forms the repression module necessary for lysogeny establishment and maintenance. Additionally, the proteins SroABC within the operon are proposed to constitute the transducer module, connecting the arbitrium communication system to the activity of the repression module. Overall, this research sheds light on the intricate and specialized repression system employed by arbitrium SPbeta-like phages in making lysis-lysogeny decisions.

Characterization of a unique repression system present in arbitrium phages of the SPbeta family.,Brady A, Cabello-Yeves E, Gallego Del Sol F, Chmielowska C, Mancheno-Bonillo J, Zamora-Caballero S, Omer SB, Torres-Puente M, Eldar A, Quiles-Puchalt N, Marina A, Penades JR Cell Host Microbe. 2023 Dec 13;31(12):2023-2037.e8. doi: , 10.1016/j.chom.2023.11.003. Epub 2023 Nov 29. PMID:38035880^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.