Induces host cell lysis. Inhibits the host translocase MraY activity that catalyzes the synthesis of lipid I, a necessary step for the host cell wall biosynthesis. Oligomerizes. Interacts (via N-terminal) with host SlyD; this interaction supposely protects E from proteolysis and therefore allows E to interact with and inhibit host MraY at the host membrane (PubMed:17005977). Interacts with host MraY; this interaction inhibits MraY translocase activity (PubMed:22742425). Most of the references in this paper show that residue 89 is Arg, in most other phiX174 proteomes the residue is Gln. We have chosen to show Gln at this position. Belongs to the microvirus E protein family.