Advisor(s)
Gino Cingolani
Committee Member(s)
David Schneider
Fengbin Wang
John Shacka
School
Joint Health Sciences (Interdisciplinary)
Document Type
Thesis
Department (new version)
Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Date of Award
9-12-2025
Abstract
DEV is a Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage part of a newly reclassified genus called Schitoviridae. This group of bacteriophages is also referred to as “N4-like” phages, after the prototypical Escherichia coli phage N4, originally isolated from sewage water in 19661. N4, and other phages in the group, contain a large, virion-associated RNA polymerase (vRNAP). This vRNAP is vital to the proliferation of the phage, as it performs the transcription of the early gene products and potentially acts as a motor that helps eject the viral genome into the host bacteria. In DEV, the vRNAP is also known as gene product 71 (gp71). This protein contains a T7-like RNA polymerase domain flanked by two domains of unknown function and structure. The overarching goal of this thesis is to decipher the structure and function of DEV gp71, as it can provide important insight into this new genus of phages. Understanding the structure of the mysterious vRNAP hallmark of N4-like phages will open numerous avenues of discovery and help expand our knowledge of one of the most understudied groups of bacteriophages of growing importance for phage therapy.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Scherer, James, "Structural Analysis Of Pseudomonas Phage Dev Virion-Associated Rna Polymerase (Gp71)" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7336.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7336
