Phylogenetic Distribution of WhiB- and Lsr2-Type Regulators in Actinobacteriophage Genomes
Vikas Sharma, Aël Hardy, Tom Luthe, Julia Frunzke
Abstract
Actinobacteriophages are viruses that infect bacterial species of the diverse phylum of Actinobacteria. Phages engage in a close relationship with their bacterial host. This is also reflected by the adoption of genetic material from their host and its incorporation into phage regulatory circuits. In this study, we systematically searched the genomes of actinobacteriophages for the presence of transcription factor domains. We show that proteins belonging to the regulator families of WhiB and Lsr2 belong to the most abundant regulatory proteins encoded by actinobacteriophages. Further phylogenetic analysis shed light on their origin and evolution. Altogether, this study provides an important basis for further experimental investigation of their role in the coordination of the phage life cycle and their interaction with the host regulatory network in this important bacterial phylum.