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Structure of double-shelled rice dwarf virus
1National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Journal of Virology
|October 10, 1998
Summary
Rice dwarf virus (RDV), a plant pathogen, has its capsid structure elucidated. This research reveals the RDV outer shell trimer
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Virology
- Plant pathology
Background:
- Rice dwarf virus (RDV) is a double-stranded RNA virus infecting rice plants.
- RDV infection significantly reduces crop yields, posing an economic threat in Southeast Asia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the three-dimensional structure of the RDV capsid.
- To compare the RDV outer shell structure with related animal viruses.
Main Methods:
- 400-kV electron cryomicroscopy
- Computer reconstruction
- Sequence and structural comparisons
Main Results:
- Determined the 25-A structure of the 700-A-diameter RDV capsid.
- Revealed two icosahedral shells: an outer T=13l shell (P8 trimers) and an inner T=1 shell (P3 dimers).
- Proposed a structural model for the P8 outer shell trimer based on comparisons with bluetongue virus VP7.
Conclusions:
- The RDV outer shell trimer shares structural similarities with bluetongue virus VP7, suggesting conserved domains.
- Differences in hinge regions and surface features may explain distinct plant-virus interactions compared to animal reoviruses.