Download MendeleyThe Capsid of the Small RNA Phage Prr1 is Stabilized by Metal Ions
Persson, M., Tars, K., Liljas, L.(2008) J Mol Biol 383: 914
- PubMed: 18786545
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2008.08.060
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
2VF9 - PubMed Abstract:
Many nonenveloped virus particles are stabilized by calcium ions bound in the interfaces between the protein subunits. These ions may have a role in the disassembly process. The small RNA phages of the Leviviridae family have T=3 quasi-symmetry and are unique among simple viruses in that they have a coat protein with a translational repressor activity and a fold that has not been observed in other viruses. The crystal structure of phage PRR1 has been determined to 3.5 A resolution. The structure shows a tentative binding site for a calcium ion close to the quasi-3-fold axis. The RNA-binding surface used for repressor activity is mostly conserved. The structure does not show any significant differences between quasi-equivalent subunits, which suggests that the assembly is not controlled by conformational switches as in many other simple viruses.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, BMC, Husargatan 3, Box 596, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
