Assembly, Release and Maturation

Question 1

How are structural units formed in viruses?

Answer 1

Structural units in viruses are formed from either individual protein subunits or a polyprotein precursor

Question 2

What mechanism is well suited for orderly formation of some virus particles

Answer 2

An assembly line mechanism is well suited for orderly formation of some virus particles

Question 3

What information do structural proteins contain regarding assembly?

Answer 3

Structural proteins contain the information necessary for assembly, aided by cellular or viral chaperones.

Question 4

What distinguishes viral genomes during encapsidation?

Answer 4

Viral genomes contain specific packaging signals to distinguish them during encapsidation.

Question 5

How are viral genomes packaged?

Answer 5

Viral genomes are packaged by either concerted or sequential encapsidation mechanisms.

Question 6

How do viruses acquire an envelope?

Answer 6

Viruses acquire an envelope by budding from the plasma membrane or internal membranes.

Question 7

What is necessary for the production of infectious viral particles from polyproteins or precursor proteins?

Answer 7

Proteolytic cleavage by viral proteases is necessary for producing infectious viral particles from polyproteins or precursor proteins.

Question 8

How do viruses spread from cell to cell?

Answer 8

Viruses may spread from cell to cell without exposure to the extracellular milieu.