DNA Packaging in Phage Lambda

DNA Packaging in Phage Lambda

In the assembly of many viruses, double-stranded DNA is packaged into a preformed capsid by the action of portal molecular motor complex. Shown are the structures of the empty (right) and filled (left) capsids of bacteriophage lambda as determined by cryo-electron microscopy and 3D image reconstruction by Gabriel Lander and John Johnson (The Scripps Research Institute) and Alex Evilevitch (Lund University). The capsid shell is shown in blue and densely packed DNA in green/yellow. Detailed single-molecule measurements of the DNA packaging dynamics recorded using optical tweezers are reported by D.N. Fuller et al.

Gabriel Lander – Doug Smith (UCSD), Alex Evilevitch (Lund University), Jack Johnson (Scripps)