Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2023, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 17-21.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2023.01.002

• Review Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Viral genome packaging motor

DAI Liqiang, SHU Yaogen   

  1. ①Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325001, Zhejiang Province, China; ②Oujiang Lab,  Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
  • Received:2022-09-28 Online:2023-02-25 Published:2023-02-06

Abstract: The virus cannot replicate itself until it has infected host cell and irritated relative biomotorsto exhaust latter’s ATP. The packaging of the viral genome, however, is the key step of viral replication. The dsDNA or dsRNA virus has to utilize hydrolysis energy of ATP by a biomotor to inject its nascent disordered genome into the preformed capsid to form a crystal-like structure before it completes replication. Here, we briefly introduce the structure, function and working mechanism of the packaging motor, and infer that its mechanochemical coupling is irreversible from the perspective of efficiency.