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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Using SCOPE to Identify Potential Regulatory Motifs in Coregulated Genes
Published on: May 31, 2011
Pac1 Signals of Human Herpesviruses Contain a Highly Conserved G-Quadruplex Motif
Banhi Biswas1, Pooja Kumari2, Perumal Vivekanandan1
1Kusuma School of Biological Sciences , Indian Institute of Technology Delhi , New Delhi , Delhi 110016 , India.
Abstract:
Packaging signals ( pac1 and pac2) of human herpesviruses (HHVs) that contain GC-rich elements are essential for cleavage and packaging of the virus. Here, we report the presence of putative G-quadruplex sequences (PQSs) in the packaging signal ( pac1) of all HHVs. Importantly, the residues critical for the formation of G-quadruplex structures were highly conserved as compared to those not critical for the formation of this DNA secondary structure, indicating that G-quadruplexes are positively selected within pac1 in the evolution of herpesviruses. CD spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, native/denaturing gel, and DMS footprinting confirmed the formation of G-quadruplex structures in all pac1 PQS oligonucleotides analyzed; the majority of the PQS had the propensity to form intermolecular structures. The presence of highly conserved G-quadruplex motifs at genomic locations critical for virus packaging has not been previously recognized. Our findings provide a new perspective on the putative functions of G-quadruplexes in virus genomes.
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