Structural changes in a marine podovirus associated with release of its genome into Prochlorococcus

Single particle cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of marine podovirus particles, together with cryo-electron tomography studies during the host infection process, have revealed structural features that suggest a mechanism whereby, upon binding to the Prochlorococcus host cell, the tail fibers induce a cascade of structural alterations of the portal vertex complex that triggers release of its genome.