Structure of toroidal DNA collapsed inside the phage capsid.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19470490.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.0901240106 and PMC identifier 2695091.
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Abstract
The structure of DNA toroids made of individual DNA molecules of various lengths (3,000 to 55,000 bp) was studied, by using partially filled bacteriophage capsids in conjunction with cryoelectron microscopy. The tetravalent cation spermine was diffused through the capsid to condense the DNA under conditions that were chosen to produce a hexagonal packing. Our results demonstrate that the frustration arising between chirality and hexagonal packing leads to the formation of twist walls; the correlation between helices combined with their strong curvature impose variations of the DNA helical pitch.
Medical subject headings
- Bacteriophages
- Capsid
- DNA, Viral