Heterogeneity of the procapsid of bacteriophage T3.
Like other double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, bacteriophage T3 assembles a DNA-free procapsid that subsequently packages the bacteriophage DNA. By agarose gel electrophoresis, it has been found that the T3 procapsid has a negative electrophoretic mobility (mu) that progressively increases in magnitude by as much as 3% after assembly of the procapsid. This increase is (i) caused by an increase in the solid support-free mu (muo) of the procapsid, not a decrease in its radius, and (ii) not prevented by either genetically or chemically (use of proflavine) blocking DNA packaging. However, inhibition of the formation of high-energy compounds with a mixture of cyanide and fluoride ions does block the time-dependent increase in the magnitude of muo. This increase appears to be accompanied by addition of an unidentified T3 protein to the procapsid.
D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D011370:Proflavine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013604:T-Phages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013997:Time Factors
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D011370:Proflavine; D011190:Potassium Cyanide