Conformational changes in the connector protein complex of the bacteriophage \(\varphi 29\) DNA packaging motor (Q1001567)

Summary: DNA packaging in the bacteriophage \(\varphi 29\) involves a molecular motor. It is proposed that dsDNA is packaged through a channel in a connector located at the 5-fold vertex of a preformed prolate icosahedral capsid. The packaging motor also consists of virally-encoded RNA molecules (pRNA) coupled to ATPases. Data obtained from studies using surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence quenching and circular dichroism are presented to demonstrate the importance of the N-termini of the connector protein subunits in pRNA interactions and in conformational change. Based on our findings, we propose a model of DNA packaging based on connector conformational change.