Genome packaging in viruses.
Genome packaging is a fundamental process in a viral life cycle. Many viruses assemble preformed capsids into which the genomic material is subsequently packaged. These viruses use a packaging motor protein that is driven by the hydrolysis of ATP to condense the nucleic acids into a confined space. How these motor proteins package viral genomes had been poorly understood until recently, when a few X-ray crystal structures and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures became available. Here we discuss various aspects of genome packaging and compare the mechanisms proposed for packaging motors on the basis of structural information.
Sun
Siyang
S
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054, USA.
Rao
Venigalla B
VB
Rossmann
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D042003:DNA Packaging; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012399:Rotation; D055672:Static Electricity; D019065:Virus Assembly; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral