Electrostatic interactions drive the self-assembly and the transcription activity of the Pseudomonas phage ϕ6 procapsid.
Assembly of an empty procapsid is a crucial step in the formation of many complex viruses. Here, we used the self-assembly system of the double-stranded RNA bacteriophage ϕ6 to study the role of electrostatic interactions in a scaffolding-independent procapsid assembly pathway. We demonstrate that ϕ6 procapsid assembly is sensitive to salt at both the nucleation and postnucleation steps. Furthermore, we observed that the salt sensitivity of ϕ6 procapsid-directed transcription is reversible.
Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Vikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland.
Xiaoyu
X
Sun
Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Vikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland.
Dennis H
DH
Bamford
Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Vikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland minna.poranen@helsinki.fi.
Minna M
MM
Poranen
D017126:Bacteriophage phi 6 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055672:Static Electricity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D019065:Virus Assembly
D036022:Capsid Proteins