Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

DNA Bacteriophages01:26

DNA Bacteriophages

321
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...
321
Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

73.6K
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...
73.6K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

64.5K
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...
64.5K
Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

68.3K
Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
68.3K
DNA Packaging00:58

DNA Packaging

108.6K
Overview
108.6K
Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes00:46

Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes

45.8K
The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...
45.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The R-loop grammar predicts R-loop formation under different topological constraints.

PLoS computational biology·2025
Same author

Roles and Future Opportunities for Genomic Architecture in Understanding Repeated Evolution.

Integrative and comparative biology·2025
Same author

Tree polynomials identify a link between co-transcriptional R-loops and nascent RNA folding.

PLoS computational biology·2024
Same author

High-Order Nonlinear Electrophoresis in a Nematic Liquid Crystal.

Physical review letters·2024
Same author

Early career Latinas in STEM: Challenges and solutions.

Cell·2023
Same author

Topological transformations of a nematic drop.

Science advances·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
08:02

Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.0K

Ion-dependent DNA configuration in bacteriophage capsids.

Pei Liu1, Javier Arsuaga2, M Carme Calderer1

  • 1School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Biophysical Journal
|July 15, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophages pack DNA using hexagonal liquid crystalline structures. A new biophysical model links DNA configuration to ion concentrations, improving simulations of viral DNA packaging.

More Related Videos

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles
10:23

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Published on: May 8, 2015

11.9K
Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
09:08

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

3.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
08:02

Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.0K
Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles
10:23

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Published on: May 8, 2015

11.9K
Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
09:08

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

3.9K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Bacteriophages encapsulate double-stranded DNA within protein capsids.
  • Viral DNA conformation resembles a hexagonal liquid crystalline structure.
  • DNA packing is influenced by capsid electrochemistry and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a biophysical model quantifying the relationship between DNA configuration and ion concentrations within bacteriophage capsids.
  • To provide a computational method for simulating larger systems than previously possible.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a free energy expression combining electrostatic, DNA bending, and Lennard-Jones interactions.
  • Derived a partial differential equation for DNA and ion distributions.
  • Created a computational approach for simulating viral systems.

Main Results:

  • The model quantifies DNA configurations based on ion types and concentrations.
  • Simulations accurately estimate DNA segment interactions and solution electrochemistry.
  • Numerical results align with experimental data and molecular dynamics simulations.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed model effectively predicts DNA packing within bacteriophage capsids.
  • The computational method enhances the study of viral genome organization.
  • This work provides insights into the electrochemistry governing viral DNA structure.