Large-genome phages encode diverse proteins associated with host cell envelope functions
- 1University of Science and Technology of China
Abstract
Huge phages (or jumbo phages, >200 kilobases) encode extensive protein repertoires, yet their functional diversity and potential roles in host physiology remain poorly understood. Using protein structure-based analyses of dominant protein families across 7,187 non-redundant genomes of huge phages, we uncovered pronounced phylogenetic and habitat-associated diversification. Notably, we identified diverse proteins associated with bacterial cell envelope functions, particularly in human gut-associated huge phages. These included previously unreported phage-encoded sortase B, whose putative substrates contain signal peptides and cell-wall sorting signals, suggesting a potential route for displaying phage proteins on bacterial surfaces. Phage-encoded phage shock protein A (PspA) was distributed across diverse lineages and frequently neighbored genes associated with membrane organization and transport, implicating potential roles in membrane physiology. We also identified 1,603 {beta}-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) across 1,303 huge phages from diverse ecosystems. These OMPs exhibited structural diversity and associations with predicted host taxonomy, habitat, and neighboring envelope-related genes. Metatranscriptomic analysis supported expression of representative phage-encoded PspA and OMP genes in natural communities including the human gut. Together, these findings reveal bacterial cell envelope processes as a previously underappreciated potential interface for huge phage-host interactions.
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BibTeX
@misc{chen2026largegenome,
title = {{Large-genome phages encode diverse proteins associated with host cell envelope functions}},
author = {L. Chen and L. Yuan},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.24.761521},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.24.761521v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Large-genome phages encode diverse proteins associated with host cell envelope functions
AU - L. Chen
AU - L. Yuan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.24.761521
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.24.761521v1
AB - Huge phages (or jumbo phages, >200 kilobases) encode extensive protein repertoires, yet their functional diversity and potential roles in host physiology remain poorly understood. Using protein structure-based analyses of dominant protein families across 7,187 non-redundant genomes of huge phages, we uncovered pronounced phylogenetic and habitat-associated diversification. Notably, we identified diverse proteins associated with bacterial cell envelope functions, particularly in human gut-associated huge phages. These included previously unreported phage-encoded sortase B, whose putative substrates contain signal peptides and cell-wall sorting signals, suggesting a potential route for displaying phage proteins on bacterial surfaces. Phage-encoded phage shock protein A (PspA) was distributed across diverse lineages and frequently neighbored genes associated with membrane organization and transport, implicating potential roles in membrane physiology. We also identified 1,603 {beta}-barrel outer membrane proteins (OMPs) across 1,303 huge phages from diverse ecosystems. These OMPs exhibited structural diversity and associations with predicted host taxonomy, habitat, and neighboring envelope-related genes. Metatranscriptomic analysis supported expression of representative phage-encoded PspA and OMP genes in natural communities including the human gut. Together, these findings reveal bacterial cell envelope processes as a previously underappreciated potential interface for huge phage-host interactions.
ER -