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Updated: May 14, 2025

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Published on: June 28, 2013
Emerging structure of chlorovirus PBCV-1.
James L Van Etten1, Irina V Agarkova1, David D Dunigan1
1Department of Plant Pathology and Nebraska Center for Virology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA, 68583-0900.
Large plaque-forming chloroviruses, like PBCV-1, infect green algae. Advanced cryo-electron microscopy reveals PBCV-1
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Structural Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Large plaque-forming chloroviruses infect eukaryotic chlorella-like green algae.
- Previous cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) indicated PBCV-1 was icosahedral (1900 Å diameter, T=169d).
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the complex structure of PBCV-1 using advanced cryo-EM.
- To describe the virus's unique features and protein composition.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) with five-fold symmetry reconstruction at 8.5 Å resolution.
- Further cryo-EM refinement to 3.5 Å resolution.
Main Results:
- PBCV-1 possesses a unique vertex with a spike structure and an internal lipid membrane.
- The capsid is composed of 30 virus-encoded proteins, including six distinct capsomer types.
- Fibers are attached to the outer surface of three capsomer types.
Conclusions:
- PBCV-1 exhibits a more complex structure than previously understood.
- High-resolution cryo-EM has elucidated novel structural details of this large algal virus.
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