Measurement of the accurate mass of a 50 MDa infectious virus.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Bacteriophage P22 is believed to contain a total of 521 copies of 9 different proteins and a 41,724 base pair genome. Despite its enormous size and complexity, phage P22 can be electrosprayed, and it remains intact in ultra-high vacuum where its molar mass distribution has been measured.

Methods

Phage P22 virions were generated by complementation in Salmonella enterica and purified. They were transferred into 100 mM ammonium acetate and then electrosprayed. The masses of individual virions were determined using charge detection mass spectrometry.

Results

The stoichiometry of the protein components of phage P22 is sufficiently well known that the theoretical molar mass can be determined to within a narrow range. The measured average molar mass of phage P22, 5

SUBMITTER: Keifer DZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5137368 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature