Structural basis for the adsorption of a single-stranded RNA bacteriophage

Abstract

Single-stranded RNA bacteriophages use a single maturation protein (Mat) to attach to a retractile pilus of the bacterial host. Here, the authors report the structures of the MS2 phage bound to the host receptor F-pili and define the orientations of Mat relative to the cell and emanating F-pili, providing new insights into the F-like type IV secretion systems.