dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaForces During Bacteriophage DNA Packaging and Ejection
| Authors | Prashant K. Purohit, Mandar M. Inamdar, Paul D. Grayson, Todd M. Squires, Jane' Kondev, Rob Phillips |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0406022 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0406022 |
| DOI | 10.1529/biophysj.104.047134 |
Abstract
The conjunction of insights from structural biology, solution biochemistry, genetics and single molecule biophysics has provided a renewed impetus for the construction of quantitative models of biological processes. One area that has been a beneficiary of these experimental techniques is the study of viruses. In this paper we describe how the insights obtained from such experiments can be utilized to construct physical models of processes in the viral life cycle. We focus on dsDNA bacteriophages and show that the bending elasticity of DNA and its electrostatics in solution can be combined to determine the forces experienced during packaging and ejection of the viral genome. Furthermore, we quantitatively analyze the effect of fluid viscosity and capsid expansion on the forces experienced during packaging. Finally, we present a model for DNA ejection from bacteriophages based on the hypothesis that the energy stored in the tightly packed genome within the capsid leads to its forceful ejection. The predictions of our model can be tested through experiments in vitro where DNA ejection is inhibited by the application of external osmotic pressure.
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"abstract": "The conjunction of insights from structural biology, solution biochemistry,\ngenetics and single molecule biophysics has provided a renewed impetus for the\nconstruction of quantitative models of biological processes. One area that has\nbeen a beneficiary of these experimental techniques is the study of viruses. In\nthis paper we describe how the insights obtained from such experiments can be\nutilized to construct physical models of processes in the viral life cycle. We\nfocus on dsDNA bacteriophages and show that the bending elasticity of DNA and\nits electrostatics in solution can be combined to determine the forces\nexperienced during packaging and ejection of the viral genome. Furthermore, we\nquantitatively analyze the effect of fluid viscosity and capsid expansion on\nthe forces experienced during packaging. Finally, we present a model for DNA\nejection from bacteriophages based on the hypothesis that the energy stored in\nthe tightly packed genome within the capsid leads to its forceful ejection. The\npredictions of our model can be tested through experiments in vitro where DNA\nejection is inhibited by the application of external osmotic pressure.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0406022",
"authors": [
"Prashant K. Purohit",
"Mandar M. Inamdar",
"Paul D. Grayson",
"Todd M. Squires",
"Jane\u0027 Kondev",
"Rob Phillips"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.BM"
],
"doi": "10.1529/biophysj.104.047134",
"title": "Forces During Bacteriophage DNA Packaging and Ejection",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0406022"
},
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