@article{basnayake_sit_lommel_2009, title={The Red clover necrotic mosaic virus origin of assembly is delimited to the RNA-2 trans-activator}, volume={384}, ISSN={["0042-6822"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-58549086327&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.virol.2008.11.005}, abstractNote={The bipartite RNA genome of Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) is encapsidated into icosahedral virions that exist as two populations: i) virions that co-package both genomic RNAs and ii) virions packaging multiple copies of RNA-2. To elucidate the packaging mechanism, we sought to identify the RCNMV origin of assembly sequence (OAS). RCNMV RNA-1 cannot package in the absence of RNA-2 suggesting that it does not contain an independent packaging signal. A 209 nt RNA-2 element expressed from the Tomato bushy stunt virus CP subgenomic promoter is co-assembled with genomic RNA-1 into virions. Deletion mutagenesis delimited the previously characterized 34 nt trans-activator (TA) as the minimal RCNMV OAS. From this study we hypothesize that RNA-1 must be base-paired with RNA-2 at the TA to initiate co-packaging. The addition of viral assembly illustrates the critical importance of the multifunctional TA element as a key regulatory switch in the RCNMV life cycle.}, number={1}, journal={VIROLOGY}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Basnayake, Veronica R. and Sit, Tim L. and Lommel, Steven A.}, year={2009}, month={Feb}, pages={169–178} }
 @article{loo_guenther_basnayake_lommel_franzen_2006, title={Controlled encapsidation of gold nanoparticles by a viral protein shell}, volume={128}, ISSN={["0002-7863"]}, DOI={10.1021/ja057332u}, abstractNote={Icosahedral virus capsids demonstrate a high degree of selectivity in packaging cognate nucleic acid components during assembly. This packaging specificity, when integrated as part of a nanotechnological protocol, has the potential to encapsidate a wide array of foreign materials for delivery of therapeutics or biosensors into target cells. Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) exclusively packages two genomic ssRNAs initiated by a specific protein:RNA interaction between the RCNMV coat protein (CP) and the viral RNA origin of assembly (OAS) element. In the present work, an oligonucleotide mimic of the RCNMV OAS sequences is attached to Au nanoparticles as a recognition signal to initiate the virion-like assembly by RCNMV CP. Covalent linkage of the OAS to Au functions as a trigger for specific encapsidation and demonstrates that foreign cargo can be packaged into RCNMV virions.}, number={14}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY}, author={Loo, L and Guenther, RH and Basnayake, VR and Lommel, SA and Franzen, S}, year={2006}, month={Apr}, pages={4502–4503} }
 @article{basnayake_sit_lommel_2006, title={The genomic RNA packaging scheme of Red clover necrotic mosaic virus}, volume={345}, ISSN={["0042-6822"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-31944440651&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.virol.2005.10.017}, abstractNote={Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) is a small icosahedral plant virus with a bipartite RNA genome. While the RCNMV genome consists of two RNAs, it has not been definitively established whether these RNAs are co-packaged into a single virion or packaged individually into separate virions. Biochemical evidence exists to support both hypotheses. To determine the genomic RNA complement within RCNMV, virions were subjected to heat treatments and UV crosslinking. A stable RNA-1:RNA-2 heterodimer was formed with both treatments establishing that RCNMV genomic RNAs are co-packaged into a single virion. Furthermore, RNA-2 homodimer and homotrimers were also observed indicating that some virions contain multiple copies of RNA-2 exclusively. These results indicate that RCNMV virions consist of two distinct populations: (i) virions containing both genomic RNAs; and (ii) virions with multiple copies of RNA-2. This type of hybrid packaging arrangement was unexpected and appears to be unique among the multipartite RNA viruses.}, number={2}, journal={VIROLOGY}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Basnayake, VR and Sit, TL and Lommel, SA}, year={2006}, month={Feb}, pages={532–539} }