Publication Abstract from PubMed
Large-scale conformational changes transform viral precursors into infectious virions. The structure of bacteriophage HK97 capsid, Head-II, was recently solved by crystallography, revealing a catenated cross-linked topology. We have visualized its precursor, Prohead-II, by cryoelectron microscopy and modeled the conformational change by appropriately adapting Head-II. Rigid-body rotations ( approximately 40 degrees) cause switching to an entirely different set of interactions; in addition, two motifs undergo refolding. These changes stabilize the capsid by increasing the surface area buried at interfaces and bringing the cross-link-forming residues, initially approximately 40 angstroms apart, close together. The inner surface of Prohead-II is negatively charged, suggesting that the transition is triggered electrostatically by DNA packaging.
Virus maturation involving large subunit rotations and local refolding.,Conway JF, Wikoff WR, Cheng N, Duda RL, Hendrix RW, Johnson JE, Steven AC Science. 2001 Apr 27;292(5517):744-8. PMID:11326105[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
