Crystal morphology of spherical viruses
The article discusses modern views on the structure of spherical virus capsids, which have the shape of icosahedrons (icosahedral viruses). Each face of icosahedron is composed of a single-layer closest packing of protein globules, which can have different orientation relative to the edges of icosah...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Saint-Petersburg Mining University
2021-06-01
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Series: | Записки Горного института |
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Online Access: | https://pmi.spmi.ru/index.php/pmi/article/view/13461?setLocale=en_US |
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author | Yury L. Voytekhovsky |
author_facet | Yury L. Voytekhovsky |
author_sort | Yury L. Voytekhovsky |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The article discusses modern views on the structure of spherical virus capsids, which have the shape of icosahedrons (icosahedral viruses). Each face of icosahedron is composed of a single-layer closest packing of protein globules, which can have different orientation relative to the edges of icosahedron. If the lines of globules are parallel to the edges of icosahedron, then the capsid has a point symmetry group Ih (with symmetry planes), if they are not parallel – the symmetry group I (without planes). From a mathematical point of view, in both symmetry groups there are series that unite equally (up to similarity) arranged capsids. They are connected pairwise by transitions to dual forms (homologous series). A hypothesis is formulated that the largest spherical viruses can have even more diverse and complex capsid structures. Along with icosahedron, their basic forms can be any simple shapes, allowed in Ih and I symmetry groups (8 in total). A suggestion is made that transitions within similarity series and between homologous series have a phylogenetic significance. There are known spherical viruses of both symmetry groups. For example, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has a symmetry group Ih and belongs to a well-known series. The crystallographic approach allows to construct a strict morphological classification of spherical viruses. This is important for their early recognition and separate examination. The article demonstrates practical application of crystal morphology in the study of viral systems – an urgent problem of geoecology and life protection. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:23:30Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-0198d9d28d7d40c0b64fe31c5bf1d4e8 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2411-3336 2541-9404 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:23:30Z |
publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
publisher | Saint-Petersburg Mining University |
record_format | Article |
series | Записки Горного института |
spelling | doaj.art-0198d9d28d7d40c0b64fe31c5bf1d4e82023-01-20T02:04:53ZengSaint-Petersburg Mining UniversityЗаписки Горного института2411-33362541-94042021-06-0124819019410.31897/PMI.2021.2.313461Crystal morphology of spherical virusesYury L. Voytekhovsky0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5380-9191Saint Petersburg Mining UniversityThe article discusses modern views on the structure of spherical virus capsids, which have the shape of icosahedrons (icosahedral viruses). Each face of icosahedron is composed of a single-layer closest packing of protein globules, which can have different orientation relative to the edges of icosahedron. If the lines of globules are parallel to the edges of icosahedron, then the capsid has a point symmetry group Ih (with symmetry planes), if they are not parallel – the symmetry group I (without planes). From a mathematical point of view, in both symmetry groups there are series that unite equally (up to similarity) arranged capsids. They are connected pairwise by transitions to dual forms (homologous series). A hypothesis is formulated that the largest spherical viruses can have even more diverse and complex capsid structures. Along with icosahedron, their basic forms can be any simple shapes, allowed in Ih and I symmetry groups (8 in total). A suggestion is made that transitions within similarity series and between homologous series have a phylogenetic significance. There are known spherical viruses of both symmetry groups. For example, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has a symmetry group Ih and belongs to a well-known series. The crystallographic approach allows to construct a strict morphological classification of spherical viruses. This is important for their early recognition and separate examination. The article demonstrates practical application of crystal morphology in the study of viral systems – an urgent problem of geoecology and life protection.https://pmi.spmi.ru/index.php/pmi/article/view/13461?setLocale=en_USspherical (icosahedral) virusescapsid morphologyprotein globulessingle-layer closest packing of sphereshomologous seriespoint symmetry groups ih and iclassification and phylogeny of spherical viruses |
spellingShingle | Yury L. Voytekhovsky Crystal morphology of spherical viruses Записки Горного института spherical (icosahedral) viruses capsid morphology protein globules single-layer closest packing of spheres homologous series point symmetry groups ih and i classification and phylogeny of spherical viruses |
title | Crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
title_full | Crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
title_fullStr | Crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
title_full_unstemmed | Crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
title_short | Crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
title_sort | crystal morphology of spherical viruses |
topic | spherical (icosahedral) viruses capsid morphology protein globules single-layer closest packing of spheres homologous series point symmetry groups ih and i classification and phylogeny of spherical viruses |
url | https://pmi.spmi.ru/index.php/pmi/article/view/13461?setLocale=en_US |
work_keys_str_mv | AT yurylvoytekhovsky crystalmorphologyofsphericalviruses |