DNA condensates organized by the capsid protein VP15 in White Spot Syndrome Virus.
The White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) has a large circular double-stranded DNA genome of around 300kb and it replicates in the nucleus of the host cells. The machinery of how the viral DNA is packaged has been remained unclear. VP15, a highly basic protein, is one of the major capsid proteins found in the virus. Previously, it was shown to be a DNA binding protein and was hypothesized to participate in the viral DNA packaging process. Using Atomic Force Microscopy imaging, we show that the viral DNA is associated with a (or more) capsid proteins. The organized viral DNA qualitatively resembles the conformations of VP15 induced DNA condensates in vitro. Furthermore, single-DNA manipulation experiments revealed that VP15 is able to condense single DNA against forces of a few pico Newtons. Our results suggest that VP15 may aid in the viral DNA packaging process by directly condensing DNA.
Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542, Singapore.
Yingjie
Y
Liu
Jinlu
J
Wu
Hu
H
Chen
Choy Leong
CL
Hew
Jie
J
Yan
D000818:Animals; D042003:DNA Packaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016679:Genome, Viral; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000821:virology; D013718:Tensile Strength; D019065:Virus Assembly / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004279:DNA, Viral; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; C446942:VP15 protein, white spot syndrome virus