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DNA packaging and ejection forces in bacteriophage.

J Kindt1, S Tzlil, A Ben-Shaul

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 15, 2001
PubMed
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Packaging DNA into bacteriophage capsids requires significant force, increasing dramatically in the final loading stages. This process also influences internal pressure and DNA arrangement within the phage head.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria by injecting their genetic material.
  • Understanding the forces involved in DNA packaging is crucial for viral replication and gene therapy applications.
  • The physical state of DNA within the capsid influences its stability and delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To calculate the forces involved in DNA packaging and ejection in bacteriophages.
  • To investigate how DNA self-repulsion or self-attraction affects these forces.
  • To determine the structural organization of DNA inside the capsid during packaging.

Main Methods:

  • Computer simulations were employed to model the DNA packaging process.
  • Analytical theory was used to complement the simulation results.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Forces and internal pressures were calculated as a function of DNA length.

    • Main Results:

    • The force required for DNA packaging increased over 10-fold in the final third of the process, reaching tens of piconewtons.
    • Internal capsid pressure dropped 10-fold upon partial DNA ejection, matching cellular osmotic pressure.
    • DNA packaging transitioned from toroidal to spool-like structures.

    Conclusions:

    • DNA packaging into bacteriophages involves significant force changes and pressure dynamics.
    • The physical forces and DNA arrangement are critical for efficient viral genome delivery.
    • These findings have implications for understanding viral mechanics and developing novel biotechnological tools.