A cis-Acting DNA signal for encapsidation of simian virus 40

Ariella Oppenheim*, Ziv Sandalon, Aviva Peleg, Orly Shaul, Silvia Nicolis, Sergio Ottolenghi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Encapsidation of simian virus 40 is a complex biological process involving DNA-protein and protein-protein interactions in the formation of a unique three-dimensional structure around the viral minichromosome. A pseudoviral system developed in our laboratory, in which the viral early and late gene products are supplied in trans (by helpers), was used to analyze the encapsidation process independent of viral gene expression. With this experimental system we have discovered a requirement for a specific DNA signal for encapsidation, ses (for simian virus 40 encapsidation signal). ses is present within a 200-bp DNA fragment, which includes, in addition to the viral origin of replication (ori), six GGGCGG repeats (GC boxes) and 26 bp of the enhancer element. Deletion of the GC boxes and the enhancer sequences almost abolished encapsidation, while DNA replication was only moderately decreased. The ability to encapsidate was not regained by reinserting a DNA fragment carrying ses in the sesdeleted plasmid 2 kbp away from the ori, suggesting that for encapsidation the two DNA elements have to be close to each other. These findings afford novel strategies for the investigation of viral encapsidation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5320-5328
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Virology
Volume66
Issue number9
StatePublished - Sep 1992
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A cis-Acting DNA signal for encapsidation of simian virus 40'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this