Analysis of RNA phage fr coat protein assembly by insertion, deletion and substitution mutagenesis.

A structure-function analysis of the icosahedral RNA bacteriophage fr coat protein (CP) assembly was undertaken using linker-insertion, deletion and substitution mutagenesis. Mutations were specifically introduced into either pre-existing or artificially created restriction enzyme sites within fr CP gene expressed in Escherichia coli from a recombinant plasmid. This directs synthesis of wild type protein that undergoes self-assembly and forms capsid-like particles indistinguishable morphologically and immunologically from native phage particles.