Internal DNA pressure modifies stability of WT phage
(2007) In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(23). p.9603-9608- Abstract
- dsDNA in bacteriophages is highly stressed and exerts internal pressures of many atmospheres (1 atm = 101.3 kPa) on the capsid walls. We investigate the correlation between packaged DNA length in A phage (78-100% of WT DNA) and capsid strength by using an atomic force microscope indentation technique. We show that phages with WT DNA are twice as strong as shorter genome mutants, which behave like empty capsids, regardless of high internal pressure. Our analytical model of DNA-filled capsid deformation shows that, because of DNA-hydrating water molecules, an osmotic pressure exists inside capsids that increases exponentially when the packaged DNA density is close to WT phage. This osmotic pressure raises the WT capsid strength and is... (More)
- dsDNA in bacteriophages is highly stressed and exerts internal pressures of many atmospheres (1 atm = 101.3 kPa) on the capsid walls. We investigate the correlation between packaged DNA length in A phage (78-100% of WT DNA) and capsid strength by using an atomic force microscope indentation technique. We show that phages with WT DNA are twice as strong as shorter genome mutants, which behave like empty capsids, regardless of high internal pressure. Our analytical model of DNA-filled capsid deformation shows that, because of DNA-hydrating water molecules, an osmotic pressure exists inside capsids that increases exponentially when the packaged DNA density is close to WT phage. This osmotic pressure raises the WT capsid strength and is approximately equal to the maximum breaking force of empty shells. This result suggests that the strength of the shells limits the maximal packaged genome length. Moreover, it implies an evolutionary optimization of WT phages allowing them to survive greater external mechanical stresses in nature. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/649057
- author
- Ivanovska, Irena
; Wuite, Gijs
; Jönsson, Bengt
LU
and Evilevitch, Alex
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2007
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- osmotic pressure, forces, DNA hydration, bacteriophage, atomic force microscopy, viral capsids
- in
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- volume
- 104
- issue
- 23
- pages
- 9603 - 9608
- publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000247114100013
- scopus:34547444408
- ISSN
- 1091-6490
- DOI
- 10.1073/pnas.0703166104
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- cb8e8cd8-e558-4e2b-92dd-2d69227dc47b (old id 649057)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:04:30
- date last changed
- 2022-04-29 00:17:55
@article{cb8e8cd8-e558-4e2b-92dd-2d69227dc47b, abstract = {{dsDNA in bacteriophages is highly stressed and exerts internal pressures of many atmospheres (1 atm = 101.3 kPa) on the capsid walls. We investigate the correlation between packaged DNA length in A phage (78-100% of WT DNA) and capsid strength by using an atomic force microscope indentation technique. We show that phages with WT DNA are twice as strong as shorter genome mutants, which behave like empty capsids, regardless of high internal pressure. Our analytical model of DNA-filled capsid deformation shows that, because of DNA-hydrating water molecules, an osmotic pressure exists inside capsids that increases exponentially when the packaged DNA density is close to WT phage. This osmotic pressure raises the WT capsid strength and is approximately equal to the maximum breaking force of empty shells. This result suggests that the strength of the shells limits the maximal packaged genome length. Moreover, it implies an evolutionary optimization of WT phages allowing them to survive greater external mechanical stresses in nature.}}, author = {{Ivanovska, Irena and Wuite, Gijs and Jönsson, Bengt and Evilevitch, Alex}}, issn = {{1091-6490}}, keywords = {{osmotic pressure; forces; DNA hydration; bacteriophage; atomic force microscopy; viral capsids}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{23}}, pages = {{9603--9608}}, publisher = {{National Academy of Sciences}}, series = {{Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}}, title = {{Internal DNA pressure modifies stability of WT phage}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0703166104}}, doi = {{10.1073/pnas.0703166104}}, volume = {{104}}, year = {{2007}}, }