title: Analysis of DNA-binding activity of the JC virus minor capsid protein VP2.
abstract: To investigate the DNA binding activity of the JC virus minor capsid protein, VP2, both wild-type and mutant VP2 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Southwestern blotting was employed for the DNA-binding assay. The results showed that VP2 was able to bind to DNA, except when either the last 13 or the last 29 amino acids were truncated. The results indicate that the DNA-binding domain of VP2 is located within the last 13 amino acids. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that Lys(332) and Lys(336) within the DNA-binding domain are crucial for DNA binding. The findings may provide further information for understanding the mechanism of virion assembly of the JC virus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yih-Leh
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Meilin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Chiung-Yau
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Li-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Deching
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D026501:Blotting, Southwestern; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007577:JC Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics; D016296:Mutagenesis; D017354:Point Mutation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C442543:VP2 protein, Polyomavirus; D008239:Lysine