---
title: "Bacteriophages as Antibiotics: Study Unveils Mechanism of Action"
url: https://newscentral.site/bacteriophages-as-antibiotics-study-unveils-mechanism-of-action/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Science"
published: 2026-11-10T16:00:01.000Z
updated: 2026-11-10T18:44:04.900Z
id: 83030672-65b8-45ea-8a01-a31d89d6180d
source: "Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-11-molecular-reveal-bacteriophage-protein-inhibits.html"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/bacteriophages-as-antibiotics-study-unveils-mechanism-of-action/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Bacteriophages as Antibiotics: Study Unveils Mechanism of Action

Researchers have identified how a bacteriophage protein interacts with a bacterial enzyme to inhibit cell wall production.

The growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria worldwide has sparked a major public health concern, prompting scientists to explore innovative ways to combat these microorganisms. One area of research focuses on identifying essential cellular processes in bacteria that could serve as targets for future antibiotics.

In the quest for new antibacterial strategies, researchers have turned their attention to viruses known as bacteriophages or "phages." These viruses infect and hijack bacterial cells, using their own machinery to replicate. Some phages even inject proteins that disrupt specific bacterial functions, ultimately leading to cell death.

Phage-encoded proteins have been found to target various bacterial processes, including the transport of lipids essential for building the bacterial cell wall. One protein, MurJ, is a key player in this process, and several bacteriophage proteins have been identified as inhibitors of MurJ.

However, these phage proteins exhibit significant variation in their amino acid sequences, raising questions about how they can block the same target with such different molecular structures. Do they employ distinct strategies to inhibit MurJ, or do they share a common mechanism?

To shed light on this mystery, researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan have undertaken an in-depth analysis of a specific bacteriophage protein called Sgl PP7 and its interaction with MurJ.

A team of researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan has been studying the interaction between a bacteriophage protein called Sgl PP7 and a bacterial lipid transporter known as MurJ.

The study, which was recently published in PLOS Biology, involved the use of cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of the MurJ–Sgl PP7 complex at near-atomic resolution. This technique allowed researchers to visualize the intricate details of how these two molecules interact with each other.

In their experiments, scientists found that Sgl PP7 binds to MurJ in a specific way, inserting its short C-terminal tail into a deep internal cavity within the lipid transporter. At the same time, it stabilizes MurJ's conformation, preventing it from completing the necessary back-and-forth movements required for transporting lipids across the bacterial cell wall.

The researchers also compared their findings with those of two other phage proteins, Lys M and Sgl CJ3, which have different inhibitory mechanisms but similar effects on MurJ. The results suggest that these three proteins have evolved to target a common conformation of MurJ through distinct binding pathways.

Understanding how phage proteins inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis could lead to new antibacterial agents against drug-resistant bacteria. Researchers are hopeful that this knowledge will contribute to the development of a new generation of antibiotics.

The study's findings provide a foundation for designing drugs that target the transporter MurJ, which is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. This discovery could potentially be used to create targeted antibacterial activity in artificial phage proteins.

Further research efforts in this field may shed light on the natural mechanisms of antibacterial action and help bridge the gap between basic science and practical applications. Such breakthroughs are crucial in addressing the growing problem of antibiotic resistance worldwide.

The study's results offer a promising step forward in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria, with potential implications for public health and medicine, ultimately paving the way for more effective treatments and prevention strategies.

---
Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-11-molecular-reveal-bacteriophage-protein-inhibits.html)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/bacteriophages-as-antibiotics-study-unveils-mechanism-of-action/