title: A Simple RNA-DNA Scaffold Templates the Assembly of Monofunctional Virus-Like Particles.
abstract: Using the components of a particularly well-studied plant virus, cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), we demonstrate the synthesis of virus-like particles (VLPs) with one end of the packaged RNA extending out of the capsid and into the surrounding solution. This construct breaks the otherwise perfect symmetry of the capsid and provides a straightforward route for monofunctionalizing VLPs using the principles of DNA nanotechnology. It also allows physical manipulation of the packaged RNA, a previously inaccessible part of the viral architecture. Our synthesis does not involve covalent chemistry of any kind; rather, we trigger capsid assembly on a scaffold of viral RNA that is hybridized at one end to a complementary DNA strand. Interaction of CCMV capsid protein with this RNA-DNA template leads to selective packaging of the RNA portion into a well-formed capsid but leaves the hybridized portion poking out of the capsid through a small hole. We show that the nucleic acid protruding from the capsid is capable of binding free DNA strands and DNA-functionalized colloidal particles. Separately, we show that the RNA-DNA scaffold can be used to nucleate virus formation on a DNA-functionalized surface. We believe this self-assembly strategy can be adapted to viruses other than CCMV.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Rees F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Garmann
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sportsman
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beren
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Vinothan N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Manoharan
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Knobler
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡California NanoSystems Institute, and §Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.|∥Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ⊥Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gelbart
mesh_terms: D017795:Bromovirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012367:RNA, Viral; D006046:Gold