The nine C-terminal amino acids of the major capsid protein of the human papillomavirus type 16 are essential for DNA binding and gene transfer capacity

Four C-terminal deletion mutants of the human papillomavirus 16 L1 protein were expressed in the baculovirus expression system. They consist of the de letion of amino acids 497-505, 477-505, 403-505 and 302-505 (Delta C9, Delt a C31, Delta C103 and Delta C204 respectively). Only two of the C-terminall y deleted proteins, Delta C9 and Delta C31, retained the ability to form vi rus-like particles (VLPs) resembling those obtained with the full length L1 protein. Analysis of deleted L1 proteins and corresponding VLPs indicated that the C-terminus was necessary both for DNA binding and DNA packaging. T hese results were corroborated by the loss of the gene transfer capacities of C-terminal deleted VLPs. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.