Download MendeleyCryo-EM reconstructions of BMV-derived virus-like particles reveal assembly defects in the icosahedral lattice structure.
Ruszkowski, M., Strugala, A., Indyka, P., Tresset, G., Figlerowicz, M., Urbanowicz, A.(2022) Nanoscale 14: 3224-3233
- PubMed: 35156989
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d1nr05650f
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
7PE1, 7PE2 - PubMed Abstract:
The increasing interest in virus-like particles (VLPs) has been reflected by the growing number of studies on their assembly and application. However, the formation of complete VLPs is a complex phenomenon, making it difficult to rationally design VLPs with desired features de novo . In this paper, we describe VLPs assembled in vitro from the recombinant capsid protein of brome mosaic virus (BMV). The analysis of VLPs was performed by Cryo-EM reconstructions and allowed us to visualize a few classes of VLPs, giving insight into the VLP self-assembly process. Apart from the mature icosahedral VLP practically identical with native virions, we describe putative VLP intermediates displaying non-icosahedral arrangements of capsomers, proposed to occur before the final disorder-order transition stage of icosahedral VLP assembly. Some of the described VLP classes show a lack of protein shell continuity, possibly resulting from too strong interaction with the cargo (in this case tRNA) with the capsid protein. We believe that our results are a useful prerequisite for the rational design of VLPs in the future and lead the way to the effective production of modified VLPs.
Organizational Affiliation:
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland. aniau@ibch.poznan.pl.
