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Point mutation in the polyomavirus enhancer alters local DNA conformation
1Cancer Research Center, La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, CA 92037.
Nucleic Acids Research
|March 25, 1988
Summary
A specific mutation in polyomavirus DNA allows infection of mouse cells by altering DNA structure. This finding reveals how viral DNA conformation influences host range and infectivity.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Polyomavirus host range is determined by specific viral DNA sequences.
- A mutant polyomavirus (PyEC F441) can infect murine embryonal carcinoma F9 cells, unlike the wild-type.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how a point mutation at nucleotide position 5258 in the polyomavirus enhancer affects viral DNA conformation.
- To determine the impact of different nucleotide sequences at this position on DNA structure and potential DNA bending.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of local DNA conformation using gel electrophoresis.
- Ligation of synthetic oligonucleotides with all four possible nucleotide sequences at position 5258.
Main Results:
- Both wild-type and F441 sequences at position 5258 induced local structural polymorphism, suggesting DNA bending.
- The wild-type sequence exhibited a greater effect on DNA curvature compared to the F441 mutant sequence.
- The other two nucleotide sequences at position 5258 did not result in detectable DNA curvature.
Conclusions:
- A single nucleotide change in the polyomavirus enhancer can alter viral DNA conformation.
- The observed DNA bending and structural polymorphism may play a role in polyomavirus host range determination.
- Understanding these sequence-structure-function relationships is crucial for polyomavirus research.