Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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?

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...

Retroviruses

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

One Health Genomic Surveillance at Human-Animal Interfaces in Rural Ghana Reveals Underreported Viruses of Zoonotic and Economic Concern.

Viruses·2026

Same author

AAV2 Crosslinks Actin Filaments: Implications for AAV Gene Therapy Vector Design.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Structural and Functional Characterization of Porcine Adeno-Associated Viruses.

Viruses·2025

Same author

Off-target binding of the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat to carbonic anhydrase II and IX.

Acta crystallographica. Section F, Structural biology communications·2025

Same author

Mapping the sialic acid-binding sites of LuIII and H-1 parvovirus.

Journal of virology·2025

Same author

Birds of a feather flock together: structural characterization of red-crowned crane and turkey aveparvoviruses.

Journal of virology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

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

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

Published on: July 27, 2021

Structural Capsidomics of Single-Stranded DNA Viruses.

Mario Mietzsch¹, Antonette Bennett¹, Robert McKenna¹

¹Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

|March 27, 2025

Summary

This review explores the structure and diversity of icosahedral capsids in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses. It highlights common features and evolutionary convergence, while identifying gaps in our understanding of the ssDNA capsidome.

Keywords:

Anelloviridae CRESS-DNA viruses Circoviridae Geminiviridae Microviridae Nanoviridae Parvoviridae capsid ssDNA

More Related Videos

Alternative In Vitro Methods for the Determination of Viral Capsid Structural Integrity

Alternative In Vitro Methods for the Determination of Viral Capsid Structural Integrity

Published on: November 16, 2017

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis NAME Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis NAME Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors

Published on: January 19, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2025

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

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

Published on: July 27, 2021

Alternative In Vitro Methods for the Determination of Viral Capsid Structural Integrity

Alternative In Vitro Methods for the Determination of Viral Capsid Structural Integrity

Published on: November 16, 2017

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis NAME Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis NAME Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors

Published on: January 19, 2015

Area of Science:

Virology
Structural Biology
Molecular Evolution

Background:

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses exhibit a broad host range and possess compact genomes encoding multiple proteins.
Icosahedral capsids are a common structural feature, crucial for viral assembly, genome packaging, and host interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comparative analysis of icosahedral ssDNA virus families, focusing on capsid protein arrangement and structural diversity.
To summarize current knowledge on ssDNA virus capsid structures and identify areas requiring further investigation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy structural data.
Comparative analysis of capsid protein architectures and assembly mechanisms across different ssDNA virus families.
Integration of genomic data and predictive modeling (e.g., AlphaFold) for structural insights.

Main Results:

Detailed capsid architectures are known for 8 of 35 ssDNA virus families, revealing variations in assembly and symmetry.
A conserved jelly-roll motif in capsid proteins and conserved genome packaging strategies are observed, indicating evolutionary convergence.
Predictive modeling facilitates structural insights into less-characterized ssDNA virus families.

Conclusions:

Significant diversity exists in the arrangement of capsid proteins forming icosahedral structures in ssDNA viruses.
Gaps remain in the structural characterization of the ssDNA capsidome, necessitating continued research.
Understanding capsid structure and evolution is vital for virology, molecular biology, and therapeutic development.