MPS seminar John E. Johnson

Dept of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA
Biophysical Studies of Virus Particles and their Maturation: Insights into Elegantly Programmed Nano-machines.
Host: Alex Evilevitch
Fri, 2009-05-15, lecturehall B, KC

Abstract:
Complex virus particles such as HIV, Herpes Viruses and dsDNA bacteriophages are programmed nano machines that assemble in a fragile shell that matures through a series of intermediates to form an infectious, robust particle.  We have analyzed mature bacteriophage and intermediates in maturation with X-ray crystallography and other biophysical methods, defining the nature of the transitions at near atomic resolution and their driving forces. We propose a mechanism employed by immature particles to shape an energy landscape resulting in an exothermic transition and a final maturation that relies on a Brownian ratchet. The synthesis of structural and biophysical data leads to an understanding of emergent biological behavior.
 

• Print version