Identification of EPS-degrading activity within the tail spikes of the novel Pseudomonas putida phage AF

• Published in: Virology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2012-12, Vol.434 (2), p.251-256
• Main Authors: Cornelissen, Anneleen, Ceyssens, Pieter-Jan, Krylov, Victor N, Noben, Jean-Paul, Volckaert, Guido, Lavigne, Rob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteriophage; Biofilm degradation; Biofilms; DNA, Viral - chemistry; DNA, Viral - genetics; Exopolysaccharide-degrading enzyme; exopolysaccharides; Gene transfer; Genome, Viral; Genomes; Horizontal gene transfer; Hydrolysis; Infectious Disease; Molecular Sequence Data; P. putida; Phages; Polysaccharides - metabolism; Pseudomonas Phages - enzymology; Pseudomonas putida; Pseudomonas putida - virology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Tails; Viral Tail Proteins - metabolism; Virions
• ISSN: 0042-6822; 1096-0341
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.09.030

AbstractWe report the study of phage AF, the first member of the canonical lambdoid phage group infecting Pseudomonas putida. Its 42.6 kb genome is related to the “epsilon15-like viruses” and the “BPP-1-like viruses”, a clade of bacteriophages shaped by extensive horizontal gene transfer. The AF virions display exopolysaccharide (EPS)-degrading activity, which originates from the action of the C-terminal domain of the tail spike (Gp19). This protein shows high similarity to the tail spike of the T7-like P. putida-infecting phage φ15. These unrelated phages have an identical host spectrum and EPS degradation characteristics, designating the C-terminal part of Gp19 as sole determinant for these functions. While intact AF particles have biofilm-degrading properties, Gp19 and non-infectious AF particles do not, emphasizing the role of phage amplification in biofilm degradation.