January 20, 2010

Virus Structure

Capsid/Nucleocapsid Symmetry;
Viral Genomes
 Major components of a virion
1. viral genome
comprised of DNA or RNA
2. capsid or nucleocapsid
capsid: protein shell surrounding the viral
genome in a virus particle
nucleocapsid: a nucleic acid - protein assembly
packaged within the virion
3. envelope - host cell derived lipid bilayer containing
viral glycoproteins
the outer layer of many virus particles
Virion morphology:

- virion size
- virion shape
- capsid symmetry
- presence or absence of an envelope

examples: Fig. 2.1

 Functions of virions
•

•
 Constraints on viral capsids
•

•
 Helical
symmetry
Helical symmetry is described by:
- number of structural units per turn of
the helix ()
- the axial raise per structural unit ()
- the pitch of the helix (P)

P = 
 Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

Genome: ss (+) RNA

6.4 kb in length
Single coat protein
forms a helical capsid
Fig. 2.2

 = 16.3
 = 0.14 nm
P= 2.3 nm
 Icosahedral symmetry
Capsid may form a hollow sphere structure

Icosahedron is one of 5 regular solids with

regular polygonal faces
20 triangular faces
12 vertices where 5 faces meet
30 edges where 2 faces meet
related by 2-, 3- and 5-fold symmetry
Closest available approximation of a
sphere
Icosahedral symmetry
 The simplest icosahedral capsid
Five identical subunits to form each of 12 vertices
Three identical subunits to form each of 20 faces
the minimal number of subunits is 60

example: used by Parvoviridae

capsid built from 60 copies of VP2

Viruses with larger

genomes need larger
capsids with more
Fig. 2.3 subunits.
 Major components of a virion
1. viral genome
comprised of DNA or RNA
2. capsid or nucleocapsid
capsid: protein shell surrounding the viral
genome in a virus particle
nucleocapsid: a nucleic acid - protein assembly
packaged within the virion
3. envelope - host cell derived lipid bilayer containing
viral glycoproteins
the outer layer of many virus particles
 Viral Genomes

Must specify proteins and signals for:

- replication of viral genome
- production of viral proteins
- assembly of proteins and genome into a
virion
- release of viral progeny from infected
cells
- evasion of host defenses
- transmission to new (uninfected) hosts
Structure and complexity of viral genomes

1. DNA or RNA
-
2. linear or circular
-
3. segmented or non-segmented
-
4. double-stranded or single-stranded
-
-
Viruses with DNA genomes

- double-stranded with a few exceptions

-
-
- size range from 3 kbp to 400 kbp
-
-
- circular or linear
-
-
-
Viruses with RNA genomes
- single-stranded with a few exceptions
-
-
- size range from 6 kb to 33 kb
-
-
- segmented or non-segmented
-
-
-
- exclusively linear
-
Viruses with RNA genomes

Single- or double stranded:

- positive (plus) - strand (sense)

-
- negative (minus, anti) - strand (sense)
-
- ambisense
-
 Summary
• Functions of virions
• Constraints on viral capsids
• Helical symmetry
• Icosahedral symmetry
• Viral functions encoded by the genome
• Structures of DNA genomes
• Structures of RNA genomes