Simple Rules for Efficient Assembly Predict the Layout of a Packaged Viral RNA

Eric Charles Dykeman; Nicholas Edwin Grayson; K Toropova; Reidun Twarock; N.A. Ranson; Peter G. Stockley

doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2011.02.039

Simple Rules for Efficient Assembly Predict the Layout of a Packaged Viral RNA

Eric Charles Dykeman, Nicholas Edwin Grayson, K Toropova, Reidun Twarock, N.A. Ranson, Peter G. Stockley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses, which include major human
pathogens, package their genomes as they assemble their capsids. We
show here that the organization of the viral genomes within the capsids
provides intriguing insights into the highly cooperative nature of the
assembly process. A recent cryo-electron microscopy structure of bacteriophage
MS2, determined with only 5-fold symmetry averaging, has revealed
the asymmetric distribution of its encapsidated genome. Here we show that
this RNA distribution is consistent with an assembly mechanism that
follows two simple rules derived from experiment: (1) the binding of the
MS2 maturation protein to the RNA constrains its conformation into a loop,
and (2) the capsid must be built in an energetically favorable way. These
results provide a new level of insight into the factors that drive efficient
assembly of ssRNA viruses in vivo.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	399-407
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Molecular Biology
Volume	408
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2011.02.039
Publication status	Published - 6 May 2011

Keywords

ssRNA virus;
virus assembly;
genome organization;
cryo-EM;
Hamiltonian path;

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10.1016/j.jmb.2011.02.039

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022283611001963

Cite this

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title = "Simple Rules for Efficient Assembly Predict the Layout of a Packaged Viral RNA",

abstract = "Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses, which include major human pathogens, package their genomes as they assemble their capsids. We show here that the organization of the viral genomes within the capsids provides intriguing insights into the highly cooperative nature of the assembly process. A recent cryo-electron microscopy structure of bacteriophage MS2, determined with only 5-fold symmetry averaging, has revealed the asymmetric distribution of its encapsidated genome. Here we show that this RNA distribution is consistent with an assembly mechanism that follows two simple rules derived from experiment: (1) the binding of the MS2 maturation protein to the RNA constrains its conformation into a loop, and (2) the capsid must be built in an energetically favorable way. These results provide a new level of insight into the factors that drive efficient assembly of ssRNA viruses in vivo.",

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AU - Dykeman, Eric Charles

AU - Grayson, Nicholas Edwin

AU - Toropova, K

AU - Twarock, Reidun

AU - Ranson, N.A.

AU - Stockley, Peter G.

PY - 2011/5/6

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AB - Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses, which include major human pathogens, package their genomes as they assemble their capsids. We show here that the organization of the viral genomes within the capsids provides intriguing insights into the highly cooperative nature of the assembly process. A recent cryo-electron microscopy structure of bacteriophage MS2, determined with only 5-fold symmetry averaging, has revealed the asymmetric distribution of its encapsidated genome. Here we show that this RNA distribution is consistent with an assembly mechanism that follows two simple rules derived from experiment: (1) the binding of the MS2 maturation protein to the RNA constrains its conformation into a loop, and (2) the capsid must be built in an energetically favorable way. These results provide a new level of insight into the factors that drive efficient assembly of ssRNA viruses in vivo.

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SN - 0022-2836

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Simple Rules for Efficient Assembly Predict the Layout of a Packaged Viral RNA

Abstract

Keywords

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