genome packaging
- Structure and AssemblyRole of the Herpes Simplex Virus CVSC Proteins at the Capsid Portal Vertex
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is the causative agent of several pathologies ranging in severity from the common cold sore to life-threatening encephalitic infection. A critical step during productive HSV-1 infection is the cleavage and packaging of replicated, concatemeric viral DNA into preformed capsids. A key knowledge gap is how the capsid engages the replicated viral genome and the subsequent packaging of a unit-length HSV genome...
- Structure and AssemblyUnravelling the Stability and Capsid Dynamics of the Three Virions of Brome Mosaic Virus Assembled Autonomously In Vivo
The majority of viruses contain RNA genomes protected by a shell of capsid proteins. Although crystallographic studies show that viral capsids are static structures, accumulating evidence suggests that, in solution, virions are highly dynamic assemblies. The three genomic RNAs (RNA1, -2, and -3) and a single subgenomic RNA (RNA4) of Brome mosaic virus (BMV), an RNA virus pathogenic to plants, are distributed among three physically...
- Structure and AssemblyBiochemical Reconstitution of HIV-1 Assembly and Maturation
Assembly and maturation are essential steps in the replication of orthoretroviruses such as HIV-1 and are proven therapeutic targets. These processes require the coordinated functioning of the viral Gag protein’s multiple biochemical activities. We describe here the development of an experimental system that allows an integrative analysis of how Gag’s multiple functionalities cooperate to generate a retrovirus particle. Our current...
- Genome Replication and Regulation of Viral Gene Expression | SpotlightIntact Viral Particle Counts Measured by Flow Virometry Provide Insight into the Infectivity and Genome Packaging Efficiency of Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus
Gammaretroviruses, or, more specifically, murine leukemia viruses (MLVs), have been a longstanding model for studying retroviruses. Although being extensively analyzed and dissected for decades, several facets of MLV biology are still poorly understood. One of the primary challenges has been enumerating total intact virus particles in a sample. While several analytical methods can precisely measure virus protein amounts, MLVs are known...
- Structure and AssemblyThe Interaction of Bluetongue Virus VP6 and Genomic RNA Is Essential for Genome Packaging
Genome packaging is a critical stage during virus replication. For viruses with segmented genomes, the genome segments need to be correctly packaged into a newly formed capsid. However, the detailed mechanism of this packaging is unclear. Here we focus on VP6, a minor viral protein of bluetongue virus, which is critical for genome packaging. We used multiple approaches, including a robust RNA-protein fingerprinting assay, to map the...
- Vaccines and Antiviral Agents | SpotlightA 2.8-Angstrom-Resolution Cryo-Electron Microscopy Structure of Human Parechovirus 3 in Complex with Fab from a Neutralizing Antibody
Human parechovirus 3 (HPeV3) is receiving increasing attention as a prevalent cause of sepsis-like symptoms in neonates, for which, despite the severity of disease, there are no effective treatments available. Structural and molecular insights into virus neutralization are urgently needed, especially as clinical cases are on the rise. Toward this goal, we present the first structure of HPeV3 in complex with fragments from a neutralizing...
- Structure and AssemblyInteractions between HIV-1 Gag and Viral RNA Genome Enhance Virion Assembly
- Genome Replication and Regulation of Viral Gene ExpressionDual Roles of the Hemagglutinin Segment-Specific Noncoding Nucleotides in the Extended Duplex Region of the Influenza A Virus RNA Promoter