Boundary of pRNA functional domains and minimum pRNA sequence requirement for specific connector binding and DNA packaging of phage phi29.

Bacteriophage phi29 utilizes a viral-encoded 120-base RNA (pRNA) to accomplish dsDNA packaging into a preformed procapsid. Six pRNAs bind to the procapsid and work sequentially. The pRNA contains two functional domains, one for binding to the DNA translocating connector, and the other for interacting with another component of the DNA packaging machinery during DNA translocation. By UV crosslinking, the pRNA was found to bind to the connector specifically and not to the capsid or scaffolding proteins. When purified connectors were incubated with pRNA, rosette-like connector oligomers were observed. These oligomers were found to contain pRNA. A series of deletion mutants of the pRNA were constructed and their ability to perform various tasks involved in phi29 assembly were assayed. The minimum sizes of the pRNA needed for the following activities have been determined: (1) specific binding to procapsid or to connectors; (2) connector or procapsid binding with full efficiency compared with wild-type pRNA; and (3) genomic DNA packaging. In summary, bases 37-91 (55 nt) comprised the minimum sequence required for specific connector binding, although with lower efficiency; bases 6-113 (105 nt with the additional deletion of two nonessential bases, C109 and A106) comprised the minimum sequence required for full connector binding activity; and bases 1-117 comprised the minimum sequence needed for full DNA packaging activity. These data indicate clearly that the helical region composed of bases 1-6 and 113-117 plays a crucial role in DNA translocation, but is dispensable for connector binding. A model for the role of the pRNA in DNA packaging was also presented.