Abstract
An open reading frame encoding an 88 amino acid protein was present downstream of the previously characterized endolysin ofStreptomyces aureofaciens phage µ1/6. Structural analysis of its sequence revealed features characteristic for holin. This open reading frame encoding the putative holin was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into the expression vector pET-21d(+). Synthesis of the holin-like protein resulted in bacterial cell death but not lysis. Theholµ1/6 gene was able to complement the defective λS allele in the nonsuppressingEscherichia coli HB101 strain to produce phage progeny. This fact suggests that the proteins encoded by both phage genes have analogous function,i.e. the streptomycete holin induces nonspecific lesions in the cytoplasmic membrane, through which the λ endolysin gains an access to its substrate, the cell wall. The concomitant expression of bothS. aureofaciens holµ1/6 and λ endolysin inE. coli resulted in abrupt cell lysis. This result provided further evidence that the product ofholµ1/6 gene is a holin.
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This work was supported by the VEGA grant of theSlovak Academy of Sciences no. 2/5070/25 and grant of theMinistry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic no. 2003 5P27/0208 E02.
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Farkašovská, J., Godány, A. & Vlček, C. Identification of a holin encoded by theStreptomyces aureofaciens phage µ1/6; functional analysis inEscherichia coli system. Folia Microbiol 49, 679–684 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931549
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931549