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Determination of Molecular Structures of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins using Cryo-Electron Tomography and Automated Sub-tomogram Averaging
Published on: December 1, 2011
Electron microscopic study of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) core structure: two RNA strands in the core
T Takasaki1, I Kurane, H Aihara
1Department of Microbiology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract:
The basic structure of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been investigated morphologically; however, the internal structure of HIV-1 core is not well understood. We studied the internal structures by transmission electron microscopy. We modified the method for electron staining of ultrathin sections and processed electron microscopic photographs using a computer. We confirmed that a mature HIV-1 particle had two copies of RNA strands in a cone-shaped core. These two RNA strands formed a coiling structure and interwound each other, and were already present in the late budding stage.
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