Protective Shield Used By Hundreds Of Viruses Deciphered
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Rice University’s precise new image of a virus’ protective coat is seriously undervalued. More than three years in the making, the image contains some 5 million atoms — each in precisely the right place — and it could help scientists find better ways to both fight viral infections and design new gene therapies.
The stunning image, which appears online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals the structure of a type of protein coat shared by hundreds of known viruses containing double-stranded RNA genomes. The image was painstakingly created from hundreds of high-energy X-ray diffraction images and paints the clearest picture yet of the viruses’ genome-encasing shell called a “capsid.”
“When these viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken inside and never completely break apart,” said lead researcher Jane Tao, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology at Rice.
Capsids come into play because viruses can reproduce themselves only by invading a host cell and highjacking its biochemical machinery. But when they invade, viruses need to seal off their genetic payload to prevent it from being destroyed by the cell’s protective mechanisms.
Though there are more than 5,000 known viruses, including whole families that are marked by wide variations in genetic payload and other characteristics, most of them use either a helical or a spherical capsid.
In their attempt to map precisely the spherical variety, Tao and lead author Junhua Pan, a postdoctoral fellow at Rice, first had to create a crystalline form of the capsid that could be X-rayed. They chose the oft-studied Penicillium stoloniferum virus F, or PsV-F, a virus that infects the fungus that makes penicillin. PsV-F uses the spherical capsid; although it does not infect humans, it is similar to a rotavirus and others that do.
“Spherical viruses like this have symmetry like a soccer ball or geodesic dome,” Pan said. “The whole capsid contains exactly 120 copies of a single protein.”
Previous studies had shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid protein, or CP, in an interlocking arrangement. The new research identified the sphere’s basic building block, a four-piece arrangement of CP molecules called a tetramer, which could also be building blocks for other viruses’ protein coats. By deciphering both the arrangement and the basic building block, the research team hopes to learn more about the capsid-forming process.
“Because many viruses use this type of capsid, understanding how it forms could lead to new approaches for antiviral therapies,” Tao said. “It could also aid researchers who are trying to create designer viruses and other tools that can deliver therapeutic genes into cells.”
The research team used X-ray crystallography to decipher the structure of the capsid. Pan first spent several months creating hundreds of crystal samples of PsV-F. He then collected hundreds of high-intensity, high-energy X-ray diffraction images at the Cornell High Energy Synchotron Source, or CHESS, in Ithaca, N.Y. By analyzing the way the X-rays scattered when they struck the crystals, Pan and the team created a precise three-dimensional image of the spherical capsid.
The research team included Rice postdoctoral researcher Li Lin and former graduate student Liping Dong; Max Nibert of Harvard Medical School; Timothy Baker, Wendy Ochoa and Robert Sinkovits, all of the University of California, San Diego; and Said Ghabrial and Wendy Havens, both of the University of Kentucky.
The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the USDA, the Welch Foundation, the Kresge Science Initiative Endowment Fund, the Agouron Foundation and the San Diego Supercomputer Center.
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1. The image was painstakingley created from hundereds of high energey x ray diffraction images and paints the clearest picture yet of the viruses genome encasing shell called caspid.
2. When these viruses invade cells the caspids get taken inside and never completley break apart.
3. There are more than 5,000 known virusis, including whole familys that are maked by wide variations in genitic payloads and other charichteristics.
4. Spherical viruses like this have a symmetry like a soccer ball or a geodesic dome.
5. Pervious studies have shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid protien.
1.This virus can take over cell membranes and kill then in seconds.2.This is a serouis virus.3.You can get by having an efection or some type of wound.4.This virus infects the fungus that makes piliinansillin.5.scientist are trying to make an building block to stop the virus from spreading
This virus can take over an cell membrane and take over it in 2 seconds.
Spherical viruses have symmetry like soccer ball.
There are more than 5,000 known viruses.
Capsids get taken inside and never completely break apart.
The whole capsid contains 120 copies of protein.
By making this image scientists may be able to find better ways to fight viral infections. Viruses invade a cell and seal off the cell’s genetic payload to prevent it from dying from the cell’s protective mechanisms. There are more than 5,000 known viruses including entire families marked by variations in genetic payloads and other characteristics. Spherical viruses like the one shown have a soccer ball like look. Previous studies showed that spherical capsids contain dozens of CP in an overlapping arrangement. A research team used X-ray crystallography to figure out the structure of the capsid.
Theres been more virus than more than ever.There are more than hundreds of viruses that can invade brain cells.But there are more than five million un known viruses still at stake.Scientist are trying to find out the solution of getting rid of this virus.This is a very danger virus.
This article is about protective shield used by hundreds of viruses.
1.When these viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken inside and never completely break apart,” said lead researcher Jane Tao, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology at Rice.
2.Capsids come into play because viruses can reproduce themselves only by invading a host cell and highjacking its biochemical machinery
3.Though there are more than 5,000 known viruses, including whole families that are marked by wide variations in genetic payload and other characteristics, most of them use either a helical or a spherical capsid.
4.Previous studies had shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid protein, or CP, in an interlocking arrangement.
5.The research team used X-ray crystallography to decipher the structure of the capsid. Pan first spent several months creating hundreds of crystal samples of PsV-F
When viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken.
When they invade, viruses need to seal off their payload to prevent it from being destroyed by protective mechanisms.
When viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken.
When they invade, viruses need to seal off their payload to prevent it from being destroyed by protective mechanisms.
There more than 5,000 known viruses.
Spherical viruses have symmetry like a soccer ball or geodesic dome.
The research was supported by many companies.
1. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Rice University’s percise new image of a virus’ protective coat is seriously undervalued.
2.More than three years in the making the image contains some 5 million atoms each in the precisely the right place and it could help scienctists find better both fight viral infections and design new gene therapies.
3.When these viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken inside and never completely break apart.
4.Capsids come in play because viruses can reproduce themselfs by only invading a host cell and highjacking it biochemical machinary.
5.Though there are more than 5,000 viruses known, including whole families that are marked by wide variations in genetic payload and other characteristics most of them use either a helical or a spherical capsid.
Article summary
1.whole capsid contains exactly 120 copies of a single protein.
2.Tao create a crystalline form of the capsid that could be X-rayed
3.Capsids come into play because viruses can reproduce themselves
4.Pan spent several months creating hundreds of crystal samples of PsV-F.
5. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the USDA, and the Welch Foundation.
Article Summary for December 14, 2009
1. Capsids come into play because viruses can reproduce themselves.
2. When viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken.
3. The whole capsid contains 120 copies of protein.
4. Studies have shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid protein.
5. There are more than 5,000 known viruses.
1. Though there are more than 5,000 viruses known, including whole families that are marked by wide variations in genetic payload and other characteristics most of them use either a helical or a spherical capsid.
2. When viruses invade cells, the capsids get taken.
3. The image was painstakingley created from hundereds of high energey x ray diffraction images and paints the clearest picture yet of the viruses genome encasing shell called caspid.
4. The whole capsid contains 120 copies of protein.
5. Pervious studies have shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid Protein.
there are more than 5,000 known viruses
Previous studies had shown that spherical capsids contain dozens of copies of the capsid protein
Capsids come into play because viruses can reproduce themselves
The whole capsid contains 120 copies of protein
The research team used X-ray crystallography to decipher the structure of the capsid
By making this image scientists may be able to find better ways to fight viral infections. Viruses invade a cell and seal off the cell’s genetic payload to prevent it from dying from the cell’s protective mechanisms. There are more than 5,000 known viruses including entire families marked by variations in genetic payloads and other characteristics. Spherical viruses like the one shown have a soccer ball like look. Previous studies showed that spherical capsids contain dozens of CP in an overlapping arrangement. A research team used X-ray crystallography to figure out the structure of the capsid.