Virology – Biology W3310/W4310 Spring 2016

Prof V. Racaniello
Study questions for lecture 4: Structure of viruses

1. What are the different functions of viral structural proteins?

Protection of the genome

- Assembly of a stable protective protein shell

- Specific recognition and packaging of the nucleic acid genome

- Interaction with host cell membranes to form the envelope.

Delivery of the genome

- Bind host cell receptors

- Uncoating of the genome - Fusion with cell membranes

- Transport of genome to the appropriate site

2. What is meant when we say that viral capsids are metastable? Why must they be
metastable? How is this property achieved?

Their structure alternates between stable and unstable depending on the current
situation. They must be stable when outside of the host to maintain their genome intact
but unstable upon infection to release it genetic material. This is achieved by the fact that
the bonds between the protein subunits in virions are not covalent, therefore can the
structure can be altered to be taken apart or loosened on infection to release or expose
genome.

3. Know the definitions of subunit, structural unit, capsid, nucleocapsid, envelope, and
virion.

Subunit - Single folded polypeptide chain

• Structural unit (protomer, asymmetric unit) - Unit from which capsids or

nucleocapsids are built; one or more subunits
• Capsid (capsa = Latin, box) - Protein shell surrounding genome
• Nucleocapsid (core)
 Nucleic acid - protein assembly within particle; used when is a discrete
substructure
 Envelope (viral membrane) - Host cell-derived lipid bilayer • Virion - Infectious
virus particle

Study questions W3310/4310 2016 Lecture 4

4. What are the two rules of symmetry by which virus particles are assembled? Give an
example of a virus that is built with each type of symmetry.

Rule 1: Each subunit has ‘identical’ bonding contacts with its neighbors - Repeated
interaction of chemically complementary surfaces at the subunit interfaces naturally
leads to a symmetric arrangement.

• Helical Symmetry
• Icosahedral Symmetry
• Complex Symmetry
• Tailed Bacteriophages

Rule 2: These bonding contacts are usually noncovalent - Reversible; error-free assembly

5. Know the principles of icosahedral symmetry as they apply to viral capsids: 20

equilateral triangles, 5-, 3-, and 2-fold axes of symmetry.

6. What does the T number describe?

Triangulation Number - the number of facets per triangular face of an icosahedron.

Combining these several triangular facets allows assembly of larger face from same
structural unit

7. How is the simplest icosahedral capsid constructed?

They are typically made of 60 identical protein subunits, their protein subunit is the
structural unit and the interactions of all molecules with their neighbors are identical
(head-to-head, tail-to-tail)

8. If capsid proteins are not larger than 20-60 kDa, how do you make larger capsids? How
do these capsids differ from smaller capsids?

There are three modes of subunit packing (orange, yellow, purple) - Pentamers &
hexamers; The bonding interactions are quasiequivalent: all engage tail-to-tail and head-
to-head as more subunits are added.

When a capsid contains more than 60 subunits, each occupies a quasiequivalent position.
The noncovalent binding properties of subunits in different structural environments are
similar, but not identical

9. What is the function of viral envelope proteins?

Integral membrane glycoproteins – structural

Ectodomain: attachment, antigenic sites, fusion

Study questions W3310/4310 2016 Lecture 4

Internal domain: assembly

Oligomeric: spikes

Study questions W3310/4310 2016 Lecture 4