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Related Experiment Videos

Models of bacteriophage DNA packaging motors.

Philip Serwer1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. serwer@uthscsa.edu

Journal of Structural Biology
|March 22, 2003
PubMed
Summary

An ATP-dependent motor packs DNA into bacteriophage capsids. This study supports the motor-ratchet hypothesis, explaining DNA packaging through thermal or electrical motion rectification, not just pulling power strokes.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Virology

Background:

  • Double-stranded DNA bacteriophages package their genomes using an ATP-dependent motor.
  • DNA translocation into the capsid occurs through a central channel in a protein ring called a connector.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of DNA packaging by bacteriophage motors.
  • To evaluate proposed models for ATP-dependent DNA translocation into viral capsids.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing data including biochemical genetics, energetics, structure, and packaging dynamics.
  • Comparison of experimental data with predictions from two proposed motor mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • The study demonstrates that the motor-ratchet hypothesis is consistent with all available data.
  • The motor-ratchet mechanism explains DNA packaging via rectification of DNA motion (thermal, biased thermal, or electrical field-induced).
  • This contrasts with the previously favored model of a rotating connector pulling DNA via power strokes.

Conclusions:

  • The motor-ratchet hypothesis provides a viable explanation for bacteriophage DNA packaging dynamics.
  • This mechanism reconciles diverse experimental observations regarding DNA translocation into viral capsids.

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