Molecular packing of nucleic acids in spherical viruses.
Electron microscopy and X-ray scattering show that double-stranded DNA is wound in a regular way in the heads of phage such as P22 and lambda. DNA is "pumped" into such heads, which may simply act as passive containers. In contrast, the protein-coat subunits of tomato bushy stunt virus have a flexibly tethered N-terminal domain that appears to be a major locus of interactions with the compactly folded RNA. Both modes of packaging permit considerable latitude in the detailed arrangement of the nucleic-acid chain, while still ensuring specific and efficient incorporation.
D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D009029:Mosaic Viruses / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins