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Review
. 2011 Jan 7;405(1):18-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.10.039. Epub 2010 Oct 28.

Effects of salts on internal DNA pressure and mechanical properties of phage capsids

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Review

Effects of salts on internal DNA pressure and mechanical properties of phage capsids

Alex Evilevitch et al. J Mol Biol. .

Abstract

Based on atomic force microscopy nanoindentation measurements of phage λ, we previously proposed a minimal model describing the effect of water hydrating DNA that strengthens viral capsids against external deformation at wild-type DNA packing density. Here, we report proof of this model by testing the prediction that DNA hydration forces can be dramatically decreased by addition of multivalent ions (Mg(2+) and Sp(4+)). These results are explained using a DNA hydration model without adjustable parameters. The model also predicts the stiffness of other DNA-filled capsids, which we confirm using bacteriophage ϕ29 and herpes simplex virus type 1 particles.

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