Black beetle virus--crystallization and particle symmetry
M V Hosur1, T Schmidt, R C Tucker
1Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Virology
|February 1, 1984
Summary
Black beetle virus crystallized into rhombic dodecahedra, revealing its icosahedral structure and ~180 protein subunits. This structural insight aids in understanding viral assembly and potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Structural Biology
- Crystallography
Background:
- Black beetle virus (BBV) is a significant pathogen.
- Understanding viral structure is crucial for developing antiviral strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the high-resolution structure of Black beetle virus.
- To elucidate the arrangement of protein subunits within the viral particle.
Main Methods:
- X-ray diffraction of crystallized virus to 3.0 A resolution.
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for solution studies.
- Electron microscopy (EM) for shape determination.
Main Results:
- BBV crystallized into rhombic dodecahedra.
- The virus particle is icosahedral with T=3 quasisymmetry.
- Approximately 180 protein subunits (44 kDa each) form the viral capsid.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed structural model of Black beetle virus.
- The findings offer insights into viral assembly and quaternary structure.
- This structural information can inform future research on BBV and related viruses.
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