Membrane-containing viruses with icosahedrally symmetric capsids

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Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
09:08

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

Juha T Huiskonen1, Sarah J Butcher

  • 1Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1), University of Helsinki, Finland.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|March 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study explores viral structure and assembly, revealing how membrane-containing viruses acquire host lipids and mediate membrane fusion through viral glycoproteins. Key findings include lipid asymmetry and tape-measure protein roles in bacteriophage PRD1.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Many viruses possess icosahedral capsids and membranes, infecting all domains of life.
  • Viral families like PRD1 and STIV share architectural principles in double-stranded DNA virus assembly.
  • Membrane-containing viruses selectively acquire host lipids during assembly and fuse with host membranes during entry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural mechanisms of viral assembly and membrane fusion.
  • To understand the role of viral glycoproteins in mediating membrane fusion.
  • To investigate lipid acquisition and distribution in viruses like bacteriophage PRD1.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography of bacteriophage PRD1.
  • Structural analysis of viral glycoproteins involved in membrane fusion.
  • Comparative analysis of viral architecture across different families.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophage PRD1 exhibits asymmetric lipid distribution and tape-measure proteins controlling facet length.
  • Viral glycoproteins form trimeric extensions that interact with and fuse target cell membranes.
  • Diverse viral protein architectures can achieve membrane fusion.

Conclusions:

  • Viral assembly involves selective lipid acquisition and precise structural organization.
  • Viral glycoproteins are crucial for mediating membrane fusion, a conserved mechanism across various virus types.
  • Understanding these viral mechanisms provides insights into host-pathogen interactions and potential antiviral strategies.

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