NLM DIR Seminar Schedule

Abstract:

Bacterial defense systems against phages are diverse, yet mechanisms involving membrane-associated components remain largely unexplored. Here, I will characterize Tmn, a member of the KAP NTPase family, as a membrane-associated defense system that targets phage infection through reversible plasmolysis. Tmn activation requires direct interactions with phage proteins expressed during infection. Upon activation, Tmn manipulates potassium export to induce plasmolysis, disrupting phage maturation at a stage where host chromosome degradation is avoided. These findings reveal that Tmn provides an elegant strategy to disrupt phage replication while enabling host cell recovery, underscoring the diverse adaptations of membrane-targeting bacterial defense systems.