Structural atlas of the intact jumbo phage phiKZ

Jumbo phage phiKZ, a key model for studying phage nucleus formation and bacterial defense mechanisms, possesses a highly complex tail machine that is essential for infection. Here, we present the structural atlas of the intact jumbo phage phiKZ by cryo-EM, thereby identifying 40 constituent proteins and unveiling its modular architecture. The virion, with a length of approximately 360 nm, is comprised of an icosahedral capsid of 2520 polypeptide chains from 11 proteins, and a massive tail machine of over 900 polypeptide chains from 29 proteins. The tail features a unique, multi-layered neck and a highly elaborate baseplate. The neck is reinforced by whisker-like proteins and anchors the contractile tail, which terminates in the baseplate. The baseplate is constituted by a central hub, an inner periphery of interlocking wedge heterotrimers and hexagonal rings, and an outer periphery with a striking hexagonal star configuration. This intricate peripheral region of the baseplate serves as an extended platform for twelve peripheral fibers, which mediate host cell adsorption. Our findings provide a structural framework for understanding jumbo phage assembly and infection, thus contributing to the foundation for future functional studies and rational engineering of these phages for potential therapeutic applications.