Recombinant Enterobacteria phage T7 Internal virion protein D (16), partial

Component of the cylindrical core that assembles on the inner surface of the capsid during capsid formation and plays a role in viral DNA ejection into the host cell. The inner core is composed of stacked rings of gp14, gp15 and gp16 proteins. Following binding to the host cell surface, the internal core is diassembled and gp16 is ejected along with gp14 and gp15 into the infected cell. Gp16 probably inserts in the host inner membrane and remains associated with gp15. The gp15-gp16 complex binds to both the viral DNA and the host inner membrane, probably escorting the leading end of the genome through the periplasm and controlling the extend of DNA translocated into the host cell. Functions as an exolysin that catalyzes the cleavage of the glycosidic bonds between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine residues in peptidoglycans allowing the local digestion of the bacterial peptidoglycan wall.