Structure Tobacco mosaic virus

schematic model of tmv: 1. nucleic acid (rna), 2. capsomer protein (protomer), 3. capsid

tobacco mosaic virus has rod-like appearance. capsid made 2130 molecules of coat protein (see image left) , 1 molecule of genomic single strand rna, 6400 bases long. coat protein self-assembles rod-like helical structure (16.3 proteins per helix turn) around rna, forms hairpin loop structure (see electron micrograph above). protein monomer consists of 158 amino acids assembled 4 main alpha-helices, joined prominent loop proximal axis of virion. virions ~300 nm in length , ~18 nm in diameter. negatively stained electron microphotographs show distinct inner channel of ~4 nm. rna located @ radius of ~6 nm , protected action of cellular enzymes coat protein. there 3 rna nucleotides per protein monomer. x-ray fiber diffraction structure of intact virus studied based on electron density map @ 3.6 Å resolution.

structure of tmv

tmv virus first crystallized stanley length of tmv 300 nm, while width 18 nm. there present of core of 4 nm inside tmv. inside core helically coiled rna molecule present, made of 6500 nucleotides rna enclosed inside protein coat, capsid.

the capsid made of 2130 capsomeres of size each capsomere made of 158 amino acids