Author:
Booy F. P.,Newcomb W. W.,Brown J. C.,Steven A. C.
Abstract
Herpesviruses are an extensive family of double-stranded DNA-containing animal viruses. The typical herpes-virion consists of a loosely-fitting envelope derived from the nuclear membrane of the host cell, within which a proteinaceous "tegument" layer encloses an icosahedral nucleocapsid. The capsid is a thick-walled shell of triangulation class T=16, whose major constituent is a protein of monomer mass ∽ 155kDa. Hexamers of this protein occupy the hexavalent sites of the icosahedral surface lattice. The nucleocapsid also contains several minor proteins and the linear genome of 80-150 MDaDespite investigations extending over more than 20 years, many basic questions concerning the HSV nucleocapsid structure remain unanswered; e.g. where are the minor proteins located? and what is the structure and chemical identity of the vertex capsomers? Moreover, although several models have been proposed for the packing of DNA inside the capsid, further, more detailed, evidence is needed to settle this issue. Conventional electron microscopic approaches having been constrained by difficulties in preserving and conveying the native structures of intact nucleocapsids, we have started to explore the potentialities of cryo-electron microscopy for this system.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Cited by
4 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献