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DNA Packaging

DNA Packaging

DNA Bacteriophages

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for replication. DNA bacteriophages employ single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. These phages exhibit diverse replication strategies and host interactions, influencing their ecological roles and applications in biotechnology and medicine.ssDNA BacteriophagesssDNA phages, with their small genomes, utilize unique strategies to...

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...

Chromatin Packaging

Chromatin Packaging

Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base-pairs of DNA. Each base-pair is 0.34 nm long, which means that each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. How is such a long DNA strand packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10 - 20 microns in diameter?
The chromatin
In combination with specialized DNA binding protein called Histones, the DNA double helix forms a compact DNA: protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin itself is further compacted into higher-order...

Chromatin Packaging

Chromatin Packaging

Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base pairs of DNA. Each base pair is 0.34 nm long, meaning each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. This long DNA strand is packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10-20 microns in diameter with the help of specialized DNA-binding proteins called histones. Together they form a compact DNA-protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin is further compacted into higher-order structures. The highest level of compaction is achieved during...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Production of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Ensembles on DNA Origami Nanostructures for Single Molecule Observation

Production of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Ensembles on DNA Origami Nanostructures for Single Molecule Observation

Published on: October 15, 2019

Methods for Single-Molecule Sensing and Detection Using Bacteriophage Phi29 DNA Packaging Motor.

Farzin Haque^1,2,3,4,5, Hui Zhang^1,2,3,4,5, Shaoying Wang^1,2,3,4,5

¹Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|July 5, 2018

Summary

The bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor, a complex of portal proteins and packaging RNA (pRNA), is studied using single-molecule biophysical methods. These techniques reveal its structure and function for nanotechnology and nanomedicine applications.

Keywords:

AFM Conductance FRET Nanomedicine Nanopore Photobleaching RNA nanoparticle RNA nanotechnology pRNA phi29 DNA packaging motor

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Last Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Production of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Ensembles on DNA Origami Nanostructures for Single Molecule Observation

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Published on: October 15, 2019

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Published on: June 28, 2014

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Molecular Biology
Nanotechnology

Background:

The bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor comprises a portal channel protein complex (connector) and a packaging RNA (pRNA) ring.
The portal protein's design enables sensitive detection of biopolymers and chemicals.
pRNA's self-assembly aids in studying motor stoichiometry and structure at the single-molecule level.

Purpose of the Study:

To detail biophysical and analytical methods for studying phi29 motor components at the single-molecule level.
To explore the applications of the phi29 system in nanotechnology and nanomedicine.

Main Methods:

Single channel conductance assays for membrane-embedded connectors.
Single molecule photobleaching (SMPB) for component stoichiometry.
Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for pRNA structure and folding.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) for pRNA nanoparticle imaging.
Bright-field microscopy with a magnetomechanical system for visualizing DNA packaging.

Main Results:

Demonstrated various single-molecule techniques to analyze phi29 motor components.
Determined stoichiometry and structure/folding of pRNA.
Visualized the DNA packaging process in real-time.

Conclusions:

The phi29 motor system offers significant potential for nanotechnology and nanomedicine.
Applications include DNA sequencing, targeted drug delivery, environmental monitoring, and disease diagnosis.