Characterization of phi8, a bacteriophage containing three double-stranded RNA genomic segments and distantly related to Phi6

Virology. 2000 Jun 20;272(1):218-24. doi: 10.1006/viro.2000.0374.

Abstract

The three double-stranded RNA genomic segments of bacteriophage Phi8 were copied as cDNA, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Although the organization of the genome is similar to that of Phi6, there is no similarity in either the nucleotide sequences or the amino acid sequences, with the exception of the motifs characteristic of viral RNA polymerases that are found in the presumptive polymerase sequence. Several features of the viral proteins differ markedly from those of Phi6. Although both phages are covered by a lipid-containing membrane, the protein compositions are very different. The most striking difference is that protein P8, which constitutes a shell around the procapsid in Phi6, is part of the membrane in Phi8. The host attachment protein consists of two peptides rather than one and the phage attaches directly to the lipopolysaccharide of the host rather than to a type IV pilus. The host range of Phi8 includes rough strains of Salmonella typhimurium and of pseudomonads

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Bacteriophage phi 6 / chemistry
  • Bacteriophage phi 6 / enzymology
  • Bacteriophage phi 6 / genetics*
  • Base Composition
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Codon, Nonsense / genetics
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Pseudomonas / virology
  • Pseudomonas Phages / chemistry
  • Pseudomonas Phages / enzymology
  • Pseudomonas Phages / genetics*
  • Pseudomonas Phages / isolation & purification
  • RNA Viruses / chemistry
  • RNA Viruses / enzymology
  • RNA Viruses / genetics
  • RNA Viruses / isolation & purification
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / chemistry
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism
  • Salmonella / virology
  • Salmonella Phages / chemistry
  • Salmonella Phages / enzymology
  • Salmonella Phages / genetics*
  • Salmonella Phages / isolation & purification
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Codon, Nonsense
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins