Lipid selection in the assembly of the phospholipid bilayer membrane of the lipid-containing bacteriophage PR4

Phage PR4 contains a lipid bilayer within the phage protein capsid. The phospholipids of the bilayer are derived from those of the host. We report that phage morphogenesis selects against the unusually bulky phospholipids synthesized by Escherichia coli grown in the presence of various sugar alcohols. These data indicate that assembly of the PR4 lipid bilayer is a selective process rather than the bulk appropriation of host membrane lipids. We also demonstrate that phage PR4 morphogenesis is compatible with the incorporation of several abnormal lipids, monoacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol into the phage particle.