Exploring the Balance between DNA Pressure and Capsid Stability in Herpesviruses and Phages.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

We have recently shown in both herpesviruses and phages that packaged viral DNA creates a pressure of tens of atmospheres pushing against the interior capsid wall. For the first time, using differential scanning microcalorimetry, we directly measured the energy powering the release of pressurized DNA from the capsid. Furthermore, using a new calorimetric assay to accurately determine the temperature inducing DNA release, we found a direct influence of internal DNA pressure on the stability of the viral particle. We show that the balance of forces between the DNA pressure and capsid strength, required for DNA retention between rounds of infection, is conserved between evolutionarily diverse bacterial viruses (phages λ and P22), as well as a eukaryotic virus, human herpes

SUBMITTER: Bauer DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4542358 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature