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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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Published on: January 19, 2015

HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein bends double-stranded nucleic acids.

Hui Wang¹, Yu-Shan Yeh, Paul F Barbara

¹Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|November 19, 2009

Summary

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 nucleocapsid protein induces sharp bending in double-stranded DNA and DNA/RNA. This newly discovered interaction may play a role in viral DNA condensation during the HIV-1 life cycle.

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Structure of HIV-1 Capsid Assemblies by Cryo-electron Microscopy and Iterative Helical Real-space Reconstruction

Structure of HIV-1 Capsid Assemblies by Cryo-electron Microscopy and Iterative Helical Real-space Reconstruction

Published on: August 9, 2011

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Virology
Biophysics

Background:

The HIV-1 nucleocapsid (NC) protein is multifunctional and binds nucleic acids (NAs) non-specifically.
NC's known function involves partially melting structured NAs, facilitating HIV-1 reverse transcription.
This function is attributed to NC's preference for single-stranded bases.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate a previously undiscovered mode of interaction between NC protein and nucleic acids.
To probe NC-induced bending of fully duplexed DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA segments.
To analyze associated heterogeneous conformational dynamics in model NC/NA complexes.

Main Methods:

Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (SM-FRET) in vitro.
Utilizing model NC/NA complexes to study interactions.
Analyzing conformational dynamics of nucleic acid segments.

Main Results:

A novel mode of NC/NA interaction was identified: NC-induced sharp bending of duplex DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA.
Heterogeneous conformational dynamics associated with NC-induced bending were observed.
NC demonstrates an ability to bend fully double-stranded nucleic acid segments.

Conclusions:

NC protein can induce significant bending in duplex nucleic acids, a previously unknown interaction.
This NC-induced NA bending may be biologically relevant for NC-mediated condensation of duplex proviral DNA.
The findings expand our understanding of NC's multifunctional role in the HIV-1 life cycle.