Back to Search
Start Over
Cryo-electron tomography of vaccinia virus
- Source :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. Feb 22, 2005, Vol. 102 Issue 8, p2772, 6 p.
- Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- The combination of cryo-microscopy and electron tomographic reconstruction has allowed us to determine the structure of one of the more complex viruses, intracellular mature vaccinia virus, at a resolution of 4-6 nm. The tomographic reconstruction allows us to dissect the different structural components of the viral particle, avoiding projection artifacts derived from previous microscopic observations. A surface-rendering representation revealed brick-shaped viral particles with slightly rounded edges and dimensions of [approximately equal to] 360 x 270 x 250 nm. The outer layer was consistent with a lipid membrane (5-6 nm thick), below which usually two lateral bodies were found, built up by a heterogeneous material without apparent ordering or repetitive features. The internal core presented an inner cavity with electron dense coils of presumptive DNA-protein complexes, together with areas of very low density. The core was surrounded by two layers comprising an overall thickness of [approximately equal to] 18-19 nm; the inner layer was consistent with a lipid membrane. The outer layer was discontinuous, formed by a periodic palisade built by the side interaction of T-shaped protein spikes that were anchored in the lower membrane and were arranged into small hexagonal crystallites. It was possible to detect a few pore-like structures that communicated the inner side of the core with the region outside the layer built by the T-shaped spike palisade. cryo-EM | virus structure | 3D reconstruction
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00278424
- Volume :
- 102
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.129972620