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Viral Structure

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.

What are Viruses?

What are Viruses?

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2025

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

Published on: October 21, 2014

Integrative Approaches to Study Virus Structures.

David I Stuart^1,2, Hanna M Oksanen³, Nicola G A Abrescia^4,5

¹Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry

|December 31, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Viruses are complex structures that protect their genetic material while undergoing changes for infection. Combining techniques like X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy reveals viral structural dynamics.

Keywords:

Bacteriophage Capsid Cryogenic electron microscopy Cryogenic electron tomography Crystal structure Dissociation Electron microscopy Electron tomography Fitting Hybrid methods Mutagenesis Small-angle X-ray scattering Virus X-ray crystallography

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2025

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

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Published on: October 21, 2014

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly

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Published on: March 1, 2012

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

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Published on: July 20, 2022

Area of Science:

Structural biology
Virology
Biophysics

Background:

Viruses require a robust structure to protect their genome.
Viral structures must also be dynamic to facilitate infection, replication, and assembly.
Understanding viral structural complexity is crucial for virology and drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

To illustrate how combining major structural techniques can determine complex virus structures.
To showcase the power of hybrid approaches in studying viral dynamics.
To provide examples of integrated structural biology in virology.

Main Methods:

X-ray crystallography
Electron microscopy
Hybrid approaches combining multiple structural techniques
Analysis of both static and dynamic viral processes

Main Results:

Demonstration of how integrated techniques elucidate complex viral structures.
Examples highlighting the effectiveness of hybrid methods in structural virology.
Insights into the conformational changes viruses undergo during their life cycle.

Conclusions:

Combining structural techniques provides a powerful approach to understanding complex viruses.
Hybrid methods are essential for tackling both static and dynamic aspects of viral structure.
This integrated strategy advances the field of structural virology.