title: The encapsidation of polyomavirus is not defined by a sequence-specific encapsidation signal.
abstract: Mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) is considered a potential tool for the application of gene therapy; however, the current knowledge of the encapsulation of DNA into virions is vague. We used a series of assays based on the encapsidation of a reporter vector into MPyV pseudovirions to identify putative cis-acting elements that are involved in DNA encapsidation. None of the sequences that were derived from MPyV have been shown to solely enhance the encapsidation of a reporter vector in the assay. The frequency of encapsidation strongly correlated with the total intracellular amount of the vector after transfection. The encapsidation of target DNA into the pseudovirions was shown to be non-specific, and the packaging of non-replicated DNA was observed. We propose that the actual concentration of target DNA at the sites of virion formation is the primary factor that determines its selection for encapsidation.
authors: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Electronic address: hs@natur.cuni.cz.
authors: Hana
authors: H
authors: Spanielová
authors: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Fraiberk
authors: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors: Jiřina
authors: J
authors: Suchanová
authors: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Soukup
authors: Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors: Jitka
authors: J
authors: Forstová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
keywords: Assembly; Encapsidation signal; Mouse polyomavirus; Packaging; Pseudovirion