DNA packaging

Range Cells other than in sperm nuclei, in vivo ∼5–10% viral capsids 55% %
Organism Various
Reference Liu T et al., Solid-to-fluid-like DNA transition in viruses facilitates infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Oct 14 111(41):14675-80. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321637111. p.14675 left column bottom paragraphPubMed ID25271319
Primary Source [2] Cerritelli ME, et al. (1997) Encapsidated conformation of bacteriophage T7 DNA. Cell 91(2):271–280 [3] Earnshaw WC, Harrison SC (1977) DNA arrangement in isometric phage heads. Nature 268(5621):598–602 [10] Lander GC, et al. (2013) DNA bending-induced phase transition of encapsidated genome in phage ?. Nucleic Acids Res 41(8):4518–4524 [16] Livolant F, Leforestier A (1996) Condensed phases of DNA: Structures and phase transitions. Prog Polym Sci 21(6):1115–1164 doi:10.1016/S0079-6700(96)00016-0 [17] Strzelecka TE, Rill RL (1991) Phase transitions in concentrated DNA solutions: Ionic strength dependence. Macromolecules 24(18):5124–5133 DOI: 10.1021/ma00018a017PubMed ID9346244, 401433, 23449219
Comments p.14675 left column bottom paragraph:"Although DNA is always condensed inside the cell (ref 15), it is not condensed to the same extent as inside a viral capsid. Other than in sperm nuclei, in vivo packaging densities range from ~5–10% by volume (primary sources 16, 17). DNA confined in viral capsids, on the other hand, is at the extreme end of the packaging scale, where it is confined to 55% by volume, forming a hexagonally ordered structure (primary sources 2, 3, 10)."
Entered by Uri M
ID 111739