1. Asymmetric cryo-EM reconstruction of phage MS2 reveals genome structure in situ.
- Author
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Koning RI, Gomez-Blanco J, Akopjana I, Vargas J, Kazaks A, Tars K, Carazo JM, and Koster AJ
- Subjects
- Capsid Proteins genetics, Capsid Proteins ultrastructure, Crystallography, X-Ray, Genome, Viral genetics, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Levivirus isolation & purification, Levivirus ultrastructure, Models, Molecular, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Protein Multimerization genetics, RNA Folding genetics, RNA, Viral genetics, RNA, Viral ultrastructure, Capsid ultrastructure, Cryoelectron Microscopy methods, Levivirus genetics, Virus Assembly genetics
- Abstract
In single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, virus capsid assembly and genome packaging are intertwined processes. Using cryo-electron microscopy and single particle analysis we determined the asymmetric virion structure of bacteriophage MS2, which includes 178 copies of the coat protein, a single copy of the A-protein and the RNA genome. This reveals that in situ, the viral RNA genome can adopt a defined conformation. The RNA forms a branched network of stem-loops that almost all allocate near the capsid inner surface, while predominantly binding to coat protein dimers that are located in one-half of the capsid. This suggests that genomic RNA is highly involved in genome packaging and virion assembly.
- Published
- 2016
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