Fig. 5: φTE connector assembly.

a N-terminal tape measure protein densities shown in 6 colors for visual separation. Map: EMD-45435 (C6 map component 3.3 Å), threshold = 4.32 (3.9 σ) (b) Portal assembly with alternating portal monomers shown in red and adapters shown in blue. Portal monomers shown in cartoons contact the single adapter protein shown in cartoons. Map density is shown as an iso-surface. Map: EMD-45435 (C12 component map 3.1 Å), cyan adapter region threshold = 7.04 (6.3 σ), red portal region threshold 3.48 (3.1 σ). Adapter internal hydrophobic surface is shown to the right. c Consensus structure of connector region with sheath and tail terminator proteins shown in cartoons. Colored boxes relate to panels below (g–i), depicting various conformations of the hinge-sheet. d Head completion protein positively charged residues shown facing the connecter lumen. e Cross section of head completion proteins shown with electrostatic surface representation. f Side view of HC positively charged residues. g Hinge-sheet formed between TT and first head proximal sheath ring. h Hinge-sheet formed between first and second head proximal sheath rings. i Prototypical hinge-sheet formed by all other sheath rings in the tail.