Macromolecular assembly: chainmail stabilization of a viral capsid

J E Johnson; W R Wikoff

doi:10.1016/s0960-9822(98)00008-6

Macromolecular assembly: chainmail stabilization of a viral capsid

Curr Biol. 1998 Dec;8(25):R914-7. doi: 10.1016/s0960-9822(98)00008-6.

Authors

J E Johnson¹, W R Wikoff

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.

PMID: 9889090
DOI: 10.1016/s0960-9822(98)00008-6

Abstract

The subunits that make up the capsid of a double-stranded DNA phage have been found to be arranged as covalently bonded, interlinked pentamer and hexamer rings. This remarkable 'chainmail' arrangement raises interesting new questions about macromolecular assembly.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacteriophages / physiology
Capsid / biosynthesis*
Capsid / chemistry
DNA Viruses / physiology
Humans
Macromolecular Substances
Protein Binding / physiology
RNA Viruses / physiology
Virus Assembly / physiology*

Substances

Macromolecular Substances