Viral Genomic DNA Packaging Machinery

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophage employs a protein terminase motor to package their genome into a preformed protein shell-a system shared with eukaryotic dsDNA viruses such as herpesviruses. DNA packaging motor proteins represent excellent targets for antiviral therapy, with Letermovir, which binds Cytomegalovirus terminase, already licensed as an effective prophylaxis. In the realm of bacterial viruses, these DNA packaging motors comprise three protein constituents: the portal protein, small terminase and large terminase. The portal protein guards the passage of DNA into the preformed protein shell and acts as a protein interaction hub throughout viral assembly. Small terminase recognises the viral DNA and recruits large terminase, which in turn pumps DNA in an ATP-dependent manner. Large terminase also cleaves DNA at the termination of packaging. Multiple high-resolution structures of each component have been resolved for different phages, but it is only more recently that the field has moved towards cryo-EM reconstructions of protein complexes. In conjunction with highly informative single-particle studies of packaging kinetics, these structures have begun to inspire models for the packaging process and its place among other DNA machines.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMacromolecular Protein Complexes V
Subtitle of host publicationStructure and Function
PublisherSpringer
Pages181-205
Number of pages25
Volume104
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-58843-3
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-58842-6
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 5 Jul 2024

Publication series

NameSub-cellular biochemistry
ISSN (Print)0306-0225

Bibliographical note

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details.

Keywords

  • DNA, Viral/genetics
  • Viral Proteins/metabolism
  • Endodeoxyribonucleases/metabolism
  • Viral Genome Packaging/physiology
  • DNA Packaging
  • Bacteriophages/genetics
  • Genome, Viral

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