Research

Internal Scaffolding protein	Spike Proteins	Capsid-DNA interactions
CHP2 and øMH2K Gokushoviruses	External Scaffolding Protein	Research supported by the National Science Foundation

INTRODUCTION

The proper assembly of proteins and nucleic acids into biologically active virions involves numerous and diverse macromolecular interactions. While structural proteins must correctly interact, proper morphogenesis is equally dependent on scaffolding proteins, which are transiently associated with nascent protein complexes during virion assembly. Scaffolding proteins can also mediate conformational switches: structural changes that cause the next assembly process to differ from the previous one. With developed genetics, biochemistry, and solved atomic structures, the Microviridae system (øX174, G4 and alpha3) is well suited for the proposed research. The viral assembly pathway is depicted below. Clicking on the above links, will provide a list of publications involving the various topics.