THE ROLE OF GENOMIC DNA
AS
A PSEUDO-SCAFFOLDING DURING THE FINAL STAGES OF VIRION MORPHOGENESIS.
- The Microviridae DNA binding proteins are small very
basic proteins that are essential for DNA packaging , which link the
packaged genome to the
inner surface of the capsid. In addition to genome binding and
neutralization, the J protein orders genome within the
capsid's icosahedral symmetry, which influnces the final stages of
morphogenesis and the properties of the mature virion.
The DNA binding protein (magenta) and the internal scaffolding protein
(grey) interact with a common cleft in the coat protein (blue) in
the procapsids and virion, respectively.
Current Investigators: Matthew Dubrava.
Alumni investigators: Dr. Susan Hafenstein, Min Chen, Bryan Jennings.
Collaborator: Dr. Michael Rossmann's group (Purdue
University).
Clicking on the link belows will
retrieve a pdf of the manuscript.
Bernal, R. A., Hafenstein S.,
Esmeralda R., Fane, B. A., Rossmann, M. G. (2004) The øX174
protein J mediates DNA packaging and viral attachment to host cells. J.
Mol. Biol. 337:1109-22.
Hafenstein, S. L. , Chen, M., Fane,
B. A. (2004) Genetic and functional analyses of the øX174 DNA
binding protein: the effects of substitutions for amino acid residues
that spatially organize the two DNA binding domains. Virology, 18:
204-13.
Hafenstein, S., Fane, B. A. (2002)
øX174 genome-capsid interactions influence the biophysical
properties of the virion: evidence for a scaffolding-like function of
the genome during the final stages of morphogenesis. J. Virol. 76:
5350-6.
Jennings, B. Fane, B. A. (1997)
Genetic analysis of the øX174 DNA binding protein. Virology 227:
370-377.
