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 Experiment Videos

Assembly of a nucleoprotein complex required for DNA packaging by bacteriophage lambda

Q Yang1, A Hanagan, C E Catalano

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.

Biochemistry
|March 11, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Bacteriophage lambda DNA packaging involves terminase enzyme subunits gpNu1 and gpA. This study reveals their specific DNA binding and interaction, crucial for initiating genome packaging and forming stable intermediates.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Cementing proteins provide extra mechanical stabilization to viral cages.

Nature communications·2014
Same author

Single-particle visualization of assembly: I. Dimerization in a planar zone.

Journal of microscopy·2005
Same author

[The preparations and spectroscopic studies of infrared radiating materials].

Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu·2003
Same author

[Vibrational frequencies study of the hydroxy-benzoquinones].

Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu·2003
Same author

[The preparations and spectroscopic studies of V-Bi oxides].

Guang pu xue yu guang pu fen xi = Guang pu·2003
Same author

Interaction of normal and expanded CAG repeat sizes influences age at onset of Huntington disease.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2003

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Bacteriophage lambda assembly requires precise DNA packaging into viral capsids.
  • Terminase, composed of gpNu1 and gpA subunits, mediates this DNA packaging process.
  • Initiation involves terminase binding to the cos site and nicking DNA to create sticky ends.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the DNA binding interactions of gpNu1, gpA, and the terminase holoenzyme.
  • To elucidate the roles of individual subunits and their complex formation in DNA packaging.
  • To understand the salt sensitivity of terminase activity and the stability of packaging intermediates.

Main Methods:

  • Gel-retardation assays were employed to study protein-DNA interactions.
  • Specific and non-specific DNA binding affinities of gpNu1 and gpA were analyzed.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The effect of salt concentration on nucleoprotein complexes was examined.

    • Main Results:

    • gpNu1 specifically binds to cos-containing DNA, forming three distinct complexes.
    • gpA binds DNA, forming two complexes, but also binds non-specifically.
    • Nucleoprotein complex formation is salt-sensitive, suggesting a link to endonuclease activity.
    • Subunit interactions enhance DNA binding affinity (10-fold for gpNu1, 3-fold for gpA).
    • Complex I, the initial packaging intermediate, comprises terminase subunits bound to the left genome end and is highly stable.

    Conclusions:

    • Terminase subunits gpNu1 and gpA interact in solution before DNA binding.
    • Specific binding of gpNu1 to the cos site is essential for initiating packaging.
    • The stability of Complex I suggests a tightly regulated packaging process.
    • Understanding these interactions provides insight into bacteriophage DNA packaging mechanisms.