# What are the steps of the lytic cycle?

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**Created:** [September 26, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-are-the-steps-of-the-lytic-cycle/20131 "2020-09-26T20:57:34Z")\
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**Author:** ![MaevaFrench](https://howtodiscuss.com/user_avatar/howtodiscuss.com/maevafrench/32/2633_2.png) [@MaevaFrench](https://howtodiscuss.com/u/MaevaFrench)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-are-the-steps-of-the-lytic-cycle/20131/1 "2020-09-26T20:57:34Z")

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What are the steps of the lytic cycle?

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**Author:** ![MichaelByrd](https://howtodiscuss.com/user_avatar/howtodiscuss.com/michaelbyrd/32/30_2.png) [@MichaelByrd](https://howtodiscuss.com/u/MichaelByrd)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 8:57pm UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-are-the-steps-of-the-lytic-cycle/20131/2 "2020-09-26T20:57:37Z")

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Lytic Cycle : Simply mean bursting or rupturing cycle , over and over

again.

#### Explanation:
 It is one of the cycles of

a bacteriophage (virus) in which their is a **master-slave**

 

**relationship** between the bacteriophage (master) and bacteria

(slave).Following are the steps of lytic cycle…**1)**

 

**Attachment:**  
 In this step, the bacteriophage, **attaches**

 

**itself by its tail to the   
 cell wall** of bacterium

(plural-bacteria).**2) Digestion:**  
 In this step, the

bacteriophage contains an enzyme called   
**lysozyme, which digest**

 

**the cell wall** of bacterium (plural-  
 bacteria).  
 Thus an

**opening is formed** in the bacterial cell wall.**3)**

 

**Injection:**  
 The **bacteriophage contracts and injects its**

 

**DNA** through the   
 opening, inside the host (bacterium), while

the protein coat and   
 tail remain outside.**4) Taking**

 

**Control:**  
 Inside bacterial cell, the **bacteriophage DNA**

 

**takes over the   
 biosynthetic machinery of the host**

(bacterium), to synthesize its   
 own DNA and protein molecule.**5)**

 

**Multiplication:**  
 The bacteriophage multiplies and increases its

number,hence   
**form a lot of daughter bacteriophages** ,

the daughter   
 bacteriophages exert pressure on the cell wall of

bacterium.**6) Rupturing:**  
 Finally, **the bacterial**

 

**cell ruptures ( lysis occurs) due to all that pressure caused by daughter**

 

**bacteriophages** and release the   
 daughter bacteriophages out,

which are now ready to attack a new   
 bacteria and start their lytic

cycle, all over

again.[https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/the-viral-life-cycle/](https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/the-viral-life-cycle/)  
[https://useruploads.socratic.org/Bzh1Jep1QdqvLygUp2D8\_OSC\_Microbio\_06\_02\_lyticcycle.jpg](https://useruploads.socratic.org/Bzh1Jep1QdqvLygUp2D8_OSC_Microbio_06_02_lyticcycle.jpg)

For more information watch this… [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4BN4dARpio)

Hope This Helps 🙂

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**Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/what-are-the-steps-of-the-lytic-cycle/20131/3 "2020-11-02T09:37:13Z")

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# Lytic Cycle:

The word lytic simply means to break down.

## Definition:

One of the reproductive cycle of a bacteriophage virus ( the viruses which infect bacteria) that results in the death of the host bacteria is known as lytic cycle. The term lytic refers to the last stage of the cycle in which bacteria burst and releases the daughter phages which are produced.

## Virulent virus:

Those bacteriophage viruses which only replicate through lytic cycle are known as virulent virus.

## 6 Stages of lytic cycle:

Lytic cycle is completed in the six main stages that are described below.

### 1 Attachment of bacteriophage virus:

In the first step of the lytic cycle the bacteriophage virus uses it’s tail fibers to attach to a specific receptor site on the outer surface of bacteria.

### 2 Injection of viral DNA:

In this step the sheath of the tail starts to contract and creates a hole in the membrane of the bacterial cell. Through this hole the DNA is injected into the bacteria and the empty capsid is left outside as a ghost.

### 3 Hydrolysis of Bacterial DNA:

In this step the DNA of bacteria is broken down by the DNA of the virus to take over the control of the bacterial cell.

### 4 Production of new phages:

In this step the metabolic machinery of the bacterial cell is now controlled by the DNA of virus which directs the cell to produce phage proteins and form nucleotides of phages from degraded molecule of DNA of bacteria.

### 5 Assemblage:

The second last stage involves the assemblage of components of virus.After the production of proteins and nucleotides all the parts assemble to produce a bacteriophage virus. Three separate sets of proteins assemble to make head, tail and tail fibers of the new bacteriophage virus.

### 6 Lysis of the bacterial cell:

When 100 to 200 bacteriophages are produced then these phages direct the production of an enzyme which is known as lysozyme. Lysozyme has the ability to digest the cell wall of bacteria. With damaged cell wall osmosis takes place the cell swells and finally bursts to release all the bacteriophages. This is the last step of the cycle. These bacteriophage viruses are now ready to infect other bacteria and replicate themselves.

## Conclusion:

Lytic cycle is a viral reproductive cycle in which the host bacterium cell dies. The DNA is injected in the bacterial cell which then control the activities of the cell to form new phages. These bacteriophage viruses then cause lysis of the bacterial cell and are released in the environment.