Research Projects

Genome packaging is a crucial step in viral maturation, with three mechanisms proposed: Type I, Type II, and III. Type I involves co-condensation of nucleic acid with viral capsid proteins, resulting in the assembly of virion particles without ATP. Type II and III are ATP dependent active packaging systems, operating in viruses larger than 20kb. However, little is known about the mechanism of genome packaging in smaller plant viruses. Recent discoveries suggest that capsid proteins with ATPase activity in many plant viruses have a role in genome packaging. The molecular machinery encapsidation in plant viruses remains to be discovered and understood. A strategy to target the virus assembly process by mutating the ATPase domain of capsid proteins is also being developed.