CBMS Lecture Series: Seeing The â€Å"Invisible” Virus Assembly Instruction Manual In Action

Professor Peter Stockley

University of Leeds

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 13:30 (EST; NY time)
 

Abstract:

Many viruses that package single-stranded RNA genomes into a protective infectious virion regulate their assembly by sequence-specific RNA-coat protein (CP) contacts. These occur at defined sequences/motifs (PSs) dispersed across viral genomes (gRNAs), but vary in sequence and hence affinity for their cognate CPs, creating a preferred assembly pathway. Uniquely X-ray foot-printing has allowed us detect these CP-gRNA contacts within infectious particles. Similar PS-like contacts occur within a self-assembling enzyme cage artificially evolved so that it packages its mRNA more efficiently. This implies that PS-mediated assembly is relevant far beyond virology.

For our major model virus, foot-printing reveals that most PSs dissociate post-assembly facilitating genome release for the next round of infection. Here, and potentially in all viruses, molecular frustration appears to be a major driving force regulating the life cycle.