PMID: 8595559Dec 1, 1995Paper

Confirmation of the helical structure of the 5'/3' termini of the essential DNA packaging pRNA of phage phi 29

RNA
C ZhangP Guo

Abstract

Bacteriophage phi 29 is typical of double-stranded DNA viruses in that its genome is packaged into a preformed procapsid during viral assembly. An intriguing feature of phi 29 is the presence of a 120-base virus-encoded RNA (pRNA) that is indispensable for DNA packaging. Phylogenetic comparison of similar RNAs in numerous phages has revealed that the secondary structure of the pRNA is well conserved. Computer analysis predicts the presence of an extensive segment of helix with three single-base bulges generated by the pairing of the 5' and 3' ends. The desire to understand the role played by the pRNA in DNA packaging has led to a mutational analysis of the 5'-/3'-terminal region, which is believed to be important in DNA translocation. Deletion of 3 bases from the 3' end of the RNA, shortening the pRNA from 120 to 117 bases, was tolerated without loss of activity, but additional deletion of the base 117 resulted in 100-fold less activity, and a 115-base pRNA was virtually nonfunctional. Additionally, the three unpaired one-base bulges within the helical stretches of the paired proximate ends were nonessential for pRNA activity, as demonstrated by deletion of the bulge individually. An extensive series of helix disruptions by sin...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bacteriophage: Phage Therapy

Phage therapy uses bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) to treat bacterial infections and is widely being recognized as an alternative to antibiotics. Here is the latest research.