Depletion of virion-associated divalent cations induces parvovirus minute virus of mice to eject its genome in a 3'-to-5' direction from an otherwise intact viral particle.

ABSTRACT: We describe a structural rearrangement that can occur in parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVMp) virions following prolonged exposure to buffers containing 0.5 mM EDTA. Such particles remain stable at 4 degrees C but undergo a conformational shift upon heating to 37 degrees C at pH 7.2 that leads to the ejection of much of the viral genome in a 3'-to-5' direction, leaving the DNA tightly associated with the otherwise intact capsid. This rearrangement can be prevented by the addition of 1 mM CaCl(2) or MgCl(2) prior to incubation at 37 degrees C, suggesting that readily accessible divalent cation binding sites in the particle are critical for genome retention. Uncoating was not seen following the incubation of virions at pH 5.5 and 37 degrees C or at pH 7.2 and 37 degrees C in particles with

SUBMITTER: Cotmore SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812381 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature