Structure-Function Analysis of the ϕX174 DNA-Piloting Protein Using Length-Altering Mutations.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Although the ϕX174 H protein is monomeric during procapsid morphogenesis, 10 proteins oligomerize to form a DNA translocating conduit (H-tube) for penetration. However, the timing and location of H-tube formation are unknown. The H-tube's highly repetitive primary and quaternary structures made it amenable to a genetic analysis using in-frame insertions and deletions. Length-altered proteins were characterized for the ability to perform the protein's three known functions: participation in particle assembly, genome translocation, and stimulation of viral protein synthesis. Insertion mutants were viable. Theoretically, these proteins would produce an assembled tube exceeding the capsid's internal diameter, suggesting that virions do not contain a fully assembled tube. Len

SUBMITTER: Roznowski AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4988169 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature