Nucleic acid packaging in viruses

We review recent literature describing protein nucleic acid interactions and nucleic acid organization in viruses. The nature of the viral genome determines its overall organization and its interactions with the capsid protein. Genomes composed of single strand (ss) RNA and DNA are highly flexible and, in some cases, adapt to the symmetry of the particle-forming protein to show repeated, sequence independent, nucleoprotein interactions. Genomes composed of double-stranded (ds) DNA do not interact strongly with the container due to their intrinsic stiffness, but form well-organized layers in virions. Assembly of virions with ssDNA and ssRNA genomes usually occurs through a cooperative condensation of the protein and genome, while dsDNA viruses usually pump the genome into a preformed capsid with a strong, virally encoded, molecular motor complex. We present data that suggest the packing density of ss genomes and ds genomes are comparable, but the latter exhibit far higher pressures due to their stiffness.

► ssRNA viruses provide the highest resolution structures of packaged genome segments.
► New modes of RNA packaging are seen in enveloped (−)ssRNA nucleoproteins.
► Strong motors create ordered layers of dsDNA in bacteriophage genome packaging.
► Nucleic acid packaging density is roughly similar in ssRNA, ssDNA, and dsDNA capsids.
► The pressure inside dsDNA capsids is related to persistence length rather than packaging density.