Skeleton keys in the phage world
The viruses infecting bacteria, known as phages, carry a wondrous diversity of enzymes known as endolysins, which are responsible for opening cellular doors, like the membrane or wall, so that newly minted phages are set free. In a recent study, Oechslin and colleagues explored the evolutionary myst...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-11-01
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Series: | Communications Biology |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04155-5 |
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author | Melissa Walker |
author_facet | Melissa Walker |
author_sort | Melissa Walker |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The viruses infecting bacteria, known as phages, carry a wondrous diversity of enzymes known as endolysins, which are responsible for opening cellular doors, like the membrane or wall, so that newly minted phages are set free. In a recent study, Oechslin and colleagues explored the evolutionary mystery of lactococcal endolysin biodiversity, suggesting that these endolysins are flexible and can be used as kinds of skeleton keys to open a broad range of cellular doors. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:03:54Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-a2eede23a3c64f2e88820f59675871e3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2399-3642 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:03:54Z |
publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
record_format | Article |
series | Communications Biology |
spelling | doaj.art-a2eede23a3c64f2e88820f59675871e32022-12-22T04:35:37ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422022-11-01511210.1038/s42003-022-04155-5Skeleton keys in the phage worldMelissa Walker0Department of Biology, University of Alabama at BirminghamThe viruses infecting bacteria, known as phages, carry a wondrous diversity of enzymes known as endolysins, which are responsible for opening cellular doors, like the membrane or wall, so that newly minted phages are set free. In a recent study, Oechslin and colleagues explored the evolutionary mystery of lactococcal endolysin biodiversity, suggesting that these endolysins are flexible and can be used as kinds of skeleton keys to open a broad range of cellular doors.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04155-5 |
spellingShingle | Melissa Walker Skeleton keys in the phage world Communications Biology |
title | Skeleton keys in the phage world |
title_full | Skeleton keys in the phage world |
title_fullStr | Skeleton keys in the phage world |
title_full_unstemmed | Skeleton keys in the phage world |
title_short | Skeleton keys in the phage world |
title_sort | skeleton keys in the phage world |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04155-5 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT melissawalker skeletonkeysinthephageworld |