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McClary WD, Catala A, Zhang W, Gamboni F, Dzieciatkowska M, Sidhu SS, D'Alessandro A, Catalano CE. A Designer Nanoparticle Platform for Controlled Intracellular Delivery of Bioactive Macromolecules: Inhibition of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 in Breast Cancer Cells. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:1853-1865. [PMID: 35796308 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biological therapeutics represent an increasing and critical component of newly approved drugs; however, the inability to deliver biologics intracellularly in a controlled manner remains a major limitation. We have developed a semi-synthetic, tunable phage-like particle (PLP) platform derived from bacteriophage λ. The shell surface can be decorated with small-molecule, biological and synthetic moieties, alone or in combination and in defined ratios. Here, we demonstrate that the platform can be used to deliver biological macromolecules intracellularly and in a controlled manner. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that has been widely recognized as an ideal target for the treatment of a variety of cancers. Recently, UbV.7.2, a novel biologic derived from the ubiquitin scaffold, was developed for inhibition of USP7, but issues remain in achieving efficient and controlled intracellular delivery of the biologic. We have shown that decoration of PLPs with trastuzumab (Trz), a HER2-targeted therapeutic used in the treatment of various cancers, results in specific targeting and uptake of Trz-PLPs into HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. By simultaneously decorating PLPs with Trz and UbV.7.2, we now show that these particles are also internalized by HER2-positive cells, thus providing a means for intracellular delivery of the biologic in a controlled fashion. Internalized particles retain USP7 inhibition activity of UbV.7.2 and alter the metabolic and proteomic landscapes of these cells. This study demonstrates that the λ "designer nanoparticles" represent a powerful system for the intracellular delivery of biologics in a defined dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wynton D McClary
- The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Alexis Catala
- The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada.,Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Fabia Gamboni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Monika Dzieciatkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada.,Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S3E1, Canada
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States.,Department of Medicine - Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Carlos E Catalano
- The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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Intranuclear HSV-1 DNA ejection induces major mechanical transformations suggesting mechanoprotection of nucleus integrity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2114121119. [PMID: 35197285 PMCID: PMC8892323 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114121119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining nuclear integrity is essential to cell survival when exposed to mechanical stress. Herpesviruses, like most DNA and some RNA viruses, put strain on the nuclear envelope as hundreds of viral DNA genomes replicate and viral capsids assemble. It remained unknown, however, how nuclear mechanics is affected at the initial stage of herpesvirus infection-immediately after viral genomes are ejected into the nuclear space-and how nucleus integrity is maintained despite an increased strain on the nuclear envelope. With an atomic force microscopy force volume mapping approach on cell-free reconstituted nuclei with docked herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) capsids, we explored the mechanical response of the nuclear lamina and the chromatin to intranuclear HSV-1 DNA ejection into an intact nucleus. We discovered that chromatin stiffness, measured as Young's modulus, is increased by ∼14 times, while nuclear lamina underwent softening. Those transformations could be associated with a mechanism of mechanoprotection of nucleus integrity facilitating HSV-1 viral genome replication. Indeed, stiffening of chromatin, which is tethered to the lamina meshwork, helps to maintain nuclear morphology. At the same time, increased lamina elasticity, reflected by nucleus softening, acts as a "shock absorber," dissipating the internal mechanical stress on the nuclear membrane (located on top of the lamina wall) and preventing its rupture.
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Reconstituted virus–nucleus system reveals mechanics of herpesvirus genome uncoating. QRB DISCOVERY 2021. [PMID: 37529281 PMCID: PMC10392623 DOI: 10.1017/qrd.2021.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The viral replication cycle is controlled by information transduced through both molecular and mechanical interactions. Viral infection mechanics remains largely unexplored, however, due to the complexity of cellular mechanical responses over the course of infection as well as a limited ability to isolate and probe these responses. Here, we develop an experimental system consisting of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsids bound to isolated and reconstituted cell nuclei, which allows direct probing of capsid–nucleus mechanics with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Major mechanical transformations occur in the host nucleus when pressurised viral DNA ejects from HSV-1 capsids docked at the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) on the nuclear membrane. This leads to structural rearrangement of the host chromosome, affecting its compaction. This in turn regulates viral genome replication and transcription dynamics as well as the decision between a lytic or latent course of infection. AFM probing of our reconstituted capsid–nucleus system provides high-resolution topographical imaging of viral capsid docking at the NPCs as well as force volume mapping of the infected nucleus surface, reflecting mechanical transformations associated with chromatin compaction and stiffness of nuclear lamina (to which chromatin is tethered). This experimental system provides a novel platform for investigation of virus–host interaction mechanics during viral genome penetration into the nucleus.
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Role of HSV-1 Capsid Vertex-Specific Component (CVSC) and Viral Terminal DNA in Capsid Docking at the Nuclear Pore. Viruses 2021; 13:v13122515. [PMID: 34960783 PMCID: PMC8704396 DOI: 10.3390/v13122515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Penetration of the viral genome into a host cell nucleus is critical for initiation of viral replication for most DNA viruses and a few RNA viruses. For herpesviruses, viral DNA ejection into a nucleus occurs when the capsid docks at the nuclear pore complex (NPC) basket with the correct orientation of the unique capsid portal vertex. It has been shown that capsid vertex-specific component (CVSC) proteins, which are located at the twelve vertices of the human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsid, interact with nucleoporins (Nups) of NPCs. However, it remained unclear whether CVSC proteins determine capsid-to-NPC binding. Furthermore, it has been speculated that terminal DNA adjacent to the portal complex of DNA-filled C-capsids forms a structural motif with the portal cap (which retains DNA in the capsid), which mediates capsid-NPC binding. We demonstrate that terminal viral DNA adjacent to the portal proteins does not present a structural element required for capsid-NPC binding. Our data also show that level of CVSC proteins on the HSV-1 capsid affects level of NPC binding. To elucidate the capsid-binding process, we use an isolated, reconstituted cell nucleus system that recapitulates capsid-nucleus binding in vivo without interference from trafficking kinetics of capsids moving toward the nucleus. This allows binding of non-infectious capsid maturation intermediates with varying levels of vertex-specific components. This experimental system provides a platform for investigating virus-host interaction at the nuclear membrane.
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Mechanical Capsid Maturation Facilitates the Resolution of Conflicting Requirements for Herpesvirus Assembly. J Virol 2021; 96:e0183121. [PMID: 34878808 PMCID: PMC8865421 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01831-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Most viruses undergo a maturation process from a weakly self-assembled, noninfectious particle to a stable, infectious virion. For herpesviruses, this maturation process resolves several conflicting requirements: (i) assembly must be driven by weak, reversible interactions between viral particle subunits to reduce errors and minimize the energy of self-assembly, and (ii) the viral particle must be stable enough to withstand tens of atmospheres of DNA pressure resulting from its strong confinement in the capsid. With herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) as a prototype of human herpesviruses, we demonstrated that this mechanical capsid maturation is mainly facilitated through capsid binding auxiliary protein UL25, orthologs of which are present in all herpesviruses. Through genetic manipulation of UL25 mutants of HSV-1 combined with the interrogation of capsid mechanics with atomic force microscopy nano-indentation, we suggested the mechanism of stepwise binding of distinct UL25 domains correlated with capsid maturation and DNA packaging. These findings demonstrate another paradigm of viruses as elegantly programmed nano-machines where an intimate relationship between mechanical and genetic information is preserved in UL25 architecture. IMPORTANCE The minor capsid protein UL25 plays a critical role in the mechanical maturation of the HSV-1 capsid during virus assembly and is required for stable DNA packaging. We modulated the UL25 capsid interactions by genetically deleting different UL25 regions and quantifying the effect on mechanical capsid stability using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation approach. This approach revealed how UL25 regions reinforced the herpesvirus capsid to stably package and retain pressurized DNA. Our data suggest a mechanism of stepwise binding of two main UL25 domains timed with DNA packaging.
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UL25 capsid binding facilitates mechanical maturation of the Herpesvirus capsid and allows retention of pressurized DNA. J Virol 2021; 95:e0075521. [PMID: 34346766 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00755-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The maturation process that occurs in most viruses is evolutionarily driven as it resolves several conflicting virion assembly requirements. During herpesvirus assembly in a host cell nucleus, micron-long double-stranded herpes DNA is packaged into a nanometer-sized procapsid. This leads to strong confinement of the viral genome with resulting tens of atmospheres of intra-capsid DNA pressure. Yet, the procapsid is unstable due to weak, reversible interactions between its protein subunits, which ensures free energy minimization and reduces assembly errors. In this work we show that herpesviruses resolve these contradictory capsid requirements through a mechanical capsid maturation process facilitated by multi-functional auxiliary protein UL25. Through mechanical interrogation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsid with atomic force microscopy nano-indentation, we show that UL25 binding at capsid vertices post-assembly provides the critical capsid reinforcement required for stable DNA encapsidation; the absence of UL25 binding leads to capsid rupture. Furthermore, we demonstrate that gradual capsid reinforcement is a feasible maturation mechanism facilitated by progressive UL25 capsid binding, which is likely correlated with DNA packaging progression. This work provides insight into elegantly programmed viral assembly machinery where targeting of capsid assembly mechanics presents a new antiviral strategy that is resilient to development of drug resistance. Importance: Most viruses undergo a maturation process from a weakly assembled particle to a stable virion. Herpesvirus capsid undergoes mechanical maturation to withstand tens of atmospheres of DNA pressure. We demonstrate that this mechanical capsid maturation is mainly facilitated through binding of auxiliary protein UL25 in HSV-1 capsid vertices. We show that UL25 binding provides the critical capsid reinforcement required for stable DNA encapsidation. Our data also suggests that gradual capsid reinforcement by progressive UL25 binding is a feasible capsid maturation mechanism, correlated with DNA packaging progression.
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Catala A, Dzieciatkowska M, Wang G, Gutierrez-Hartmann A, Simberg D, Hansen KC, D'Alessandro A, Catalano CE. Targeted Intracellular Delivery of Trastuzumab Using Designer Phage Lambda Nanoparticles Alters Cellular Programs in Human Breast Cancer Cells. ACS NANO 2021; 15:11789-11805. [PMID: 34189924 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
| Several diseases exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity and diverse reprogramming of cellular pathways. To address this complexity, additional strategies and technologies must be developed to define their scope and variability with the goal of improving current treatments. Nanomedicines derived from viruses are modular systems that can be easily adapted for combinatorial approaches, including imaging, biomarker targeting, and intracellular delivery of therapeutics. Here, we describe a "designer nanoparticle" system that can be rapidly engineered in a tunable and defined manner. Phage-like particles (PLPs) derived from bacteriophage lambda possess physiochemical properties compatible with pharmaceutical standards, and in vitro particle tracking and cell targeting are accomplished by simultaneous display of fluorescein-5-maleimide (F5M) and trastuzumab (Trz), respectively (Trz-PLPs). Trz-PLPs bind to the oncogenically active human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and are internalized by breast cancer cells of the HER2 overexpression subtype, but not by those lacking the HER2 amplification. Compared to treatment with Trz, robust internalization of Trz-PLPs results in higher intracellular concentrations of Trz, prolonged inhibition of cell growth, and modulated regulation of cellular programs associated with HER2 signaling, proliferation, metabolism, and protein synthesis. Given the implications to cancer pathogenesis and that dysregulated signaling and metabolism can lead to drug resistance and cancer cell survival, the present study identifies metabolic and proteomic liabilities that could be exploited by the PLP platform to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The lambda PLP system is robust and rapidly modifiable, which offers a platform that can be easily "tuned" for broad utility and tailored functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Catala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Monika Dzieciatkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Guankui Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Medicine - Division of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Dmitri Simberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Medicine - Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Carlos E Catalano
- Program in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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8
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Yang Q, Catalano CE. ATP serves as a nucleotide switch coupling the genome maturation and packaging motor complexes of a virus assembly machine. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5006-5015. [PMID: 32255177 PMCID: PMC7229814 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The assembly of double-stranded DNA viruses, from phages to herpesviruses, is strongly conserved. Terminase enzymes processively excise and package monomeric genomes from a concatemeric DNA substrate. The enzymes cycle between a stable maturation complex that introduces site-specific nicks into the duplex and a dynamic motor complex that rapidly translocates DNA into a procapsid shell, fueled by ATP hydrolysis. These tightly coupled reactions are catalyzed by terminase assembled into two functionally distinct nucleoprotein complexes; the maturation complex and the packaging motor complex, respectively. We describe the effects of nucleotides on the assembly of a catalytically competent maturation complex on viral DNA, their effect on maturation complex stability and their requirement for the transition to active packaging motor complex. ATP plays a major role in regulating all of these activities and may serve as a 'nucleotide switch' that mediates transitions between the two complexes during processive genome packaging. These biological processes are recapitulated in all of the dsDNA viruses that package monomeric genomes from concatemeric DNA substrates and the nucleotide switch mechanism may have broad biological implications with respect to virus assembly mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Yang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Carlos E Catalano
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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The application of atomic force microscopy for viruses and protein shells: Imaging and spectroscopy. Adv Virus Res 2019; 105:161-187. [PMID: 31522704 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes surface-adsorbed samples at the nanoscale by using a sharp stylus of nanometric size located at the end of a micro-cantilever. This technique can also work in a liquid environment and offers unique possibilities to study individual protein assemblies, such as viruses, under conditions that resemble their natural liquid milieu. Here, I show how AFM can be used to explore the topography of viruses and protein cages, including that of structures lacking a well-defined symmetry. AFM is not limited for imaging and allows the manipulation of individual viruses with force spectroscopy approaches, such as single indentation and mechanical fatigue assays. These pushing experiments deform the protein cages to obtain their mechanical information and can be used to monitor the structural changes induced by maturation or the exposure to different biochemical environments, such as pH variation. We discuss how studying capsid rupture and self-healing events offers insight into virus uncoating pathways. On the other hand, pulling tests can provide information about the virus-host interaction established between the viral fibers and the cell membrane.
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Ortega-Esteban Á, Martín-González N, Moreno-Madrid F, Llauró A, Hernando-Pérez M, MartÚn CS, de Pablo PJ. Structural and Mechanical Characterization of Viruses with AFM. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1886:259-278. [PMID: 30374873 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Microscopes are used to characterize small objects with the help of probes that interact with the specimen, such as photons and electrons in optical and electron microscopies, respectively. In atomic force microscopy (AFM) the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a micro cantilever which palpates the specimen under study as a blind person manages a walking stick. In this way AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables not only the manipulation of single protein cages, but also the characterization of every physicochemical property able of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip. In this chapter we start revising some recipes for adsorbing protein shells on surfaces. Then we describe several AFM approaches to study individual protein cages, ranging from imaging to spectroscopic methodologies devoted for extracting physical information, such as mechanical and electrostatic properties. We also explain how a convenient combination of AFM and fluorescence methodologies entails monitoring genome release from individual viral shells during mechanical unpacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Ortega-Esteban
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natália Martín-González
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Moreno-Madrid
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida Llauró
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mercedes Hernando-Pérez
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cármen San MartÚn
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro J de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Solid Condensed Matter Institute IFIMAC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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11
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de Pablo PJ, Schaap IAT. Atomic Force Microscopy of Viruses. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1215:159-179. [PMID: 31317500 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14741-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy employs a nanometric tip located at the end of a micro-cantilever to probe surface-mounted samples at nanometer resolution. Because the technique can also work in a liquid environment it offers unique possibilities to study individual viruses under conditions that mimic their natural milieu. Here, we review how AFM imaging can be used to study the surface structure of viruses including that of viruses lacking a well-defined symmetry. Beyond imaging, AFM enables the manipulation of single viruses by force spectroscopy experiments. Pulling experiments can provide information about the early events of virus-host interaction between the viral fibers and the cell membrane receptors. Pushing experiments measure the mechanical response of the viral capsid and its contents and can be used to show how virus maturation and exposure to different pH values change the mechanical response of the viruses and the interaction between the capsid and genome. Finally, we discuss how studying capsid rupture and self-healing events offers insight in virus uncoating pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J de Pablo
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Solid Condensed Matter Institute IFIMAC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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12
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Catalano CE. Bacteriophage lambda: The path from biology to theranostic agent. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos E. Catalano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical ScienceUniversity of ColoradoAuroraColorado
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13
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Martín-González N, Ortega-Esteban A, Moreno-Madrid F, Llauró A, Hernando-Pérez M, de Pablo PJ. Atomic Force Microscopy of Protein Shells: Virus Capsids and Beyond. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1665:281-296. [PMID: 28940075 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7271-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a microcantilever which palpates the specimen under study as a blind person uses a white cane. In this way AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables the manipulation of single protein cages, and the characterization a variety physicochemical properties able of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip. In this chapter we start revising some recipes for adsorbing protein shells on surfaces. Then we describe several AFM approaches to study individual protein cages, ranging from imaging to spectroscopic methodologies devoted to extracting physical information, such as mechanical and electrostatic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Martín-González
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C-3, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, Km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro Ortega-Esteban
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C-3, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, Km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Moreno-Madrid
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C-3, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, Km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida Llauró
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Mercedes Hernando-Pérez
- Department of Structure of Macromolecules, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro J de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C-3, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, Km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain. .,Solid Condensed Matter Institute IFIMAC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
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14
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de Pablo PJ. Atomic force microscopy of virus shells. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 73:199-208. [PMID: 28851598 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Microscopes are used to characterize small specimens with the help of probes, such as photons and electrons in optical and electron microscopies, respectively. In atomic force microscopy (AFM) the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a microcantilever which palpates the specimen under study as a blind person manages a white cane to explore the surrounding. In this way, AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables the manipulation of single protein cages, and the characterization of every physico-chemical property able of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip. Here we describe several AFM approaches to study individual protein cages, including imaging and spectroscopic methodologies for extracting mechanical and electrostatic properties. In addition, AFM allows discovering and testing the self-healing capabilities of protein cages because occasionally they may recover fractures induced by the AFM tip. Beyond the protein shells, AFM also is able of exploring the genome inside, obtaining, for instance, the condensation state of dsDNA and measuring its diffusion when the protein cage breaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada and Solid Condensed Matter Institute IFIMAC, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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15
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Atomic force microscopy of virus shells. Biochem Soc Trans 2017; 45:499-511. [PMID: 28408490 DOI: 10.1042/bst20160316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microscopes are used to characterize small objects with the help of probes that interact with the specimen, such as photons and electrons in optical and electron microscopies, respectively. In atomic force microscopy (AFM), the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a microcantilever which palpates the specimen under study just as a blind person manages a walking stick. In this way, AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in a liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables not only the manipulation of single protein cages, but also the characterization of every physicochemical property capable of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip. In the present revision, we start revising some recipes for adsorbing protein shells on surfaces. Then, we describe several AFM approaches to study individual protein cages, ranging from imaging to spectroscopic methodologies devoted to extracting physical information, such as mechanical and electrostatic properties. We also explain how a convenient combination of AFM and fluorescence methodologies entails monitoring genome release from individual viral shells during mechanical unpacking.
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Lambert S, Yang Q, De Angeles R, Chang JR, Ortega M, Davis C, Catalano CE. Molecular Dissection of the Forces Responsible for Viral Capsid Assembly and Stabilization by Decoration Proteins. Biochemistry 2017; 56:767-778. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Lambert
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Qin Yang
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop C238, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Rolando De Angeles
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop C238, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Jenny R. Chang
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop C238, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Marcos Ortega
- Department
of Biology, Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105, United States
| | - Christal Davis
- Program
in Structural Biology and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop C290, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Carlos Enrique Catalano
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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17
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Exploring the Balance between DNA Pressure and Capsid Stability in Herpesviruses and Phages. J Virol 2015; 89:9288-98. [PMID: 26136570 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01172-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED We have recently shown in both herpesviruses and phages that packaged viral DNA creates a pressure of tens of atmospheres pushing against the interior capsid wall. For the first time, using differential scanning microcalorimetry, we directly measured the energy powering the release of pressurized DNA from the capsid. Furthermore, using a new calorimetric assay to accurately determine the temperature inducing DNA release, we found a direct influence of internal DNA pressure on the stability of the viral particle. We show that the balance of forces between the DNA pressure and capsid strength, required for DNA retention between rounds of infection, is conserved between evolutionarily diverse bacterial viruses (phages λ and P22), as well as a eukaryotic virus, human herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1). Our data also suggest that the portal vertex in these viruses is the weakest point in the overall capsid structure and presents the Achilles heel of the virus's stability. Comparison between these viral systems shows that viruses with higher DNA packing density (resulting in higher capsid pressure) have inherently stronger capsid structures, preventing spontaneous genome release prior to infection. This force balance is of key importance for viral survival and replication. Investigating the ways to disrupt this balance can lead to development of new mutation-resistant antivirals. IMPORTANCE A virus can generally be described as a nucleic acid genome contained within a protective protein shell, called the capsid. For many double-stranded DNA viruses, confinement of the large DNA molecule within the small protein capsid results in an energetically stressed DNA state exerting tens of atmospheres of pressures on the inner capsid wall. We show that stability of viral particles (which directly relates to infectivity) is strongly influenced by the state of the packaged genome. Using scanning calorimetry on a bacterial virus (phage λ) as an experimental model system, we investigated the thermodynamics of genome release associated with destabilizing the viral particle. Furthermore, we compare the influence of tight genome confinement on the relative stability for diverse bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. These comparisons reveal an evolutionarily conserved force balance between the capsid stability and the density of the packaged genome.
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18
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Chang JR, Song EH, Nakatani-Webster E, Monkkonen L, Ratner DM, Catalano CE. Phage Lambda Capsids as Tunable Display Nanoparticles. Biomacromolecules 2014; 15:4410-9. [DOI: 10.1021/bm5011646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny R. Chang
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington H-172, Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States
| | - Eun-Ho Song
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, William H. Foege Building, Room
N210D, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Eri Nakatani-Webster
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington H-172, Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States
| | - Lucas Monkkonen
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington H-172, Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States
| | - Daniel M. Ratner
- Department
of Bioengineering, University of Washington, William H. Foege Building, Room
N210D, Box 355061, Seattle, Washington 98195-5061, United States
| | - Carlos E. Catalano
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington H-172, Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States
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19
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Cementing proteins provide extra mechanical stabilization to viral cages. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4520. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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20
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Sae-Ueng U, Liu T, Catalano CE, Huffman JB, Homa FL, Evilevitch A. Major capsid reinforcement by a minor protein in herpesviruses and phage. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:9096-107. [PMID: 25053840 PMCID: PMC4132744 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) and bacteriophage λ capsids undergo considerable structural changes during self-assembly and DNA packaging. The initial steps of viral capsid self-assembly require weak, non-covalent interactions between the capsid subunits to ensure free energy minimization and error-free assembly. In the final stages of DNA packaging, however, the internal genome pressure dramatically increases, requiring significant capsid strength to withstand high internal genome pressures of tens of atmospheres. Our data reveal that the loosely formed capsid structure is reinforced post-assembly by the minor capsid protein UL25 in HSV-1 and gpD in bacteriophage λ. Using atomic force microscopy nano-indentation analysis, we show that the capsid becomes stiffer upon binding of UL25 and gpD due to increased structural stability. At the same time the force required to break the capsid increases by ∼70% for both herpes and phage. This demonstrates a universal and evolutionarily conserved function of the minor capsid protein: facilitating the retention of the pressurized viral genome in the capsid. Since all eight human herpesviruses have UL25 orthologs, this discovery offers new opportunities to interfere with herpes replication by disrupting the precise force balance between the encapsidated DNA and the capsid proteins crucial for viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udom Sae-Ueng
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Carlos Enrique Catalano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, H172 Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jamie B Huffman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Fred L Homa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Alex Evilevitch
- Department of Physics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Box 124, Lund, Sweden
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21
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Sun X, Pirttimaa MJ, Bamford DH, Poranen MM. Rescue of maturation off-pathway products in the assembly of Pseudomonas phage φ 6. J Virol 2013; 87:13279-86. [PMID: 24089550 PMCID: PMC3838280 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02285-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many complex viruses use an assembly pathway in which their genome is packaged into an empty procapsid which subsequently matures into its final expanded form. We utilized Pseudomonas phage 6, a well-established virus assembly model, to probe the plasticity of the procapsid maturation pathway. The 6 packaging nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase), which powers sequential translocation of the three viral genomic single-stranded RNA molecules to the procapsid during capsid maturation, is part of the mature 6 virion but may spontaneously be dissociated from the procapsid shell. We demonstrate that the dissociation of NTPase subunits results in premature capsid expansion, which is detected as a change in the sedimentation velocity and as defects in RNA packaging and transcription activity. However, this dead-end conformation of the procapsids was rescued by the addition of purified NTPase hexamers, which efficiently associated on the NTPase-deficient particles and subsequently drove their contraction to the compact naive conformation. The resulting particles regained their biological and enzymatic activities, directing them into a productive maturation pathway. These observations imply that the maturation pathways of complex viruses may contain reversible steps that allow the rescue of the off-pathway conformation in an overall unidirectional virion assembly pathway. Furthermore, we provide direct experimental evidence that particles which have different physical properties (distinct sedimentation velocities and conformations) display different stages of the genome packaging program and show that the transcriptional activity of the 6 procapsids correlates with the number of associated NTPase subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Sun
- Department of Biosciences
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus J. Pirttimaa
- Department of Biosciences
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dennis H. Bamford
- Department of Biosciences
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, Helsinki, Finland
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A Pseudo-Atomic Model for the Capsid Shell of Bacteriophage Lambda Using Chemical Cross-Linking/Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Modeling. J Mol Biol 2013; 425:3378-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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23
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A Two-State Cooperative Expansion Converts the Procapsid Shell of Bacteriophage T5 into a Highly Stable Capsid Isomorphous to the Final Virion Head. J Mol Biol 2013; 425:1999-2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Revised: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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24
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Andrews BT, Catalano CE. The enzymology of a viral genome packaging motor is influenced by the assembly state of the motor subunits. Biochemistry 2012; 51:9342-53. [PMID: 23134123 DOI: 10.1021/bi300890y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Terminase enzymes are responsible for the excision of a single genome from a concatemeric precursor (genome maturation) and concomitant packaging of DNA into the capsid shell. Here, we demonstrate that lambda terminase can be purified as a homogeneous "protomer" species, and we present a kinetic analysis of the genome maturation and packaging activities of the protomeric enzyme. The protomer assembles into a distinct maturation complex at the cos sequence of a concatemer. This complex rapidly nicks the duplex to form the mature left end of the viral genome, which is followed by procapsid binding, activation of the packaging ATPase, and translocation of the duplex into the capsid interior by the terminase motor complex. Genome packaging by the protomer shows high fidelity with only the mature left end of the duplex inserted into the capsid shell. In sum, the data show that the terminase protomer exhibits catalytic activity commensurate with that expected of a bone fide genome maturation and packaging complex in vivo and that both catalytically competent complexes are composed of four terminase protomers assembled into a ringlike structure that encircles duplex DNA. This work provides mechanistic insight into the coordinated catalytic activities of terminase enzymes in virus assembly that can be generalized to all of the double-stranded DNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Andrews
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States
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