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Single-Molecule Studies of Viral DNA Packaging

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Viral Molecular Machines

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 726))

Abstract

Many double-stranded DNA bacteriophages and viruses use specialized ATP-driven molecular machines to package their genomes into tightly confined procapsid shells. Over the last decade, single-molecule approaches – and in particular, optical tweezers – have made key contributions to our understanding of this remarkable process. In this chapter, we review these advances and the insights they have provided on the packaging mechanisms of three bacteriophages: φ 29, λ, and T4.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Center for the Physics of Living Cells, Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1110 W. Green St, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Yann R. Chemla

  2. Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, 0379, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Douglas E. Smith

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Correspondence to Yann R. Chemla .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biological Sciences, Purdue University, W. State St. 915, West Lafayette, 47907-2054, Indiana, USA

    Michael G. Rossmann

  2. Dept. Biology, Catholic University of America, Washington, 20064, District of Columbia, USA

    Venigalla B. Rao

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Chemla, Y.R., Smith, D.E. (2012). Single-Molecule Studies of Viral DNA Packaging. In: Rossmann, M., Rao, V. (eds) Viral Molecular Machines. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 726. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0980-9_24

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