Convergent phage lysis proteins trap MurJ flippase, revealing a shared vulnerability in bacterial cell-wall synthesis
Three phage-encoded lysis proteins—SglM, SglPP7, and SglCJ3—converged on MurJ, trapping the lipid II flippase in a periplasm-open state and blocking cell-wall synthesis; cryo-EM structures reveal a shared MurJ interface and a blueprint for MurJ-targeted antibacterials, with overexpression of MurJ homolog Amj able to suppress lysis.