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Substrate interactions and promiscuity in a viral DNA packaging motor

Author

Listed:
  • K. Aathavan

    (Biophysics Graduate Group,
    Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,
    Present addresses: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA (K.A.); Department of Physics and Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA (Y.R.C.).)

  • Adam T. Politzer

    (Biophysics Graduate Group,
    Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,)

  • Ariel Kaplan

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,
    QB3 Institute, and,
    University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA)

  • Jeffrey R. Moffitt

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,
    University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA)

  • Yann R. Chemla

    (Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,
    University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
    Present addresses: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA (K.A.); Department of Physics and Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA (Y.R.C.).)

  • Shelley Grimes

    (Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences and Institute for Molecular Virology,)

  • Paul J. Jardine

    (Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences and Institute for Molecular Virology,)

  • Dwight L. Anderson

    (Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences and Institute for Molecular Virology,
    University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA)

  • Carlos Bustamante

    (Biophysics Graduate Group,
    Jason L. Choy Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics,
    QB3 Institute, and,
    University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA)

Abstract

Viral packaging Viral packaging motors, multimeric ring-shaped ATPases of the ASCE superfamily, mediate filling of the capsid with the viral genome by translocating unidirectionally along nucleic acid in a nucleotide-dependent manner. Aathavan et al. use single-molecule approaches to determine how the motor protein interacts with the phosphate backbone of the nucleic acid during packing of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage ϕ29. They find that phosphate charges facilitate — but are not required for — translocation. In fact, the packaging motor is remarkably promiscuous, and even a non-biological polymer can be packaged. Normally, however, the motor interacts on one strand with a phosphate charge about every 10 base pairs.

Suggested Citation

  • K. Aathavan & Adam T. Politzer & Ariel Kaplan & Jeffrey R. Moffitt & Yann R. Chemla & Shelley Grimes & Paul J. Jardine & Dwight L. Anderson & Carlos Bustamante, 2009. "Substrate interactions and promiscuity in a viral DNA packaging motor," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7264), pages 669-673, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7264:d:10.1038_nature08443
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08443
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    Cited by:

    1. Agata Butryn & Julia F. Greiwe & Alessandro Costa, 2025. "Unidirectional MCM translocation away from ORC drives origin licensing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.

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