DD 02-24-14 08-10am Virus Structure and Function - Kulesza Flashcards
What is a virus?
submicroscopic, obligate intracellular (molecular) parasites that are not themselves alive
How do viruses “grow/replicate”?
In appropriate host cell, genome is replicated & directs the synthesis of components that will be assembled to form progeny viruses; Particles are produced from self-assembly of newly-synthesized components w/in the host cell.
If viruses are not alive, what are they?
Some view them as “chemicals”
3 Strategies Viruses Employ for Survival
- House their DNA or RNA genomes in small proteinaceous particles (capsids).
- Genome contains all info needed to initiate & complete an infectious cycle.
- Establish relationship in a population of hosts that ranges from benign to lethal.
Viruses carry out their 3 basic strategies for survival using a diversity of solution, including variations in…
- Particle architecture.
- Size, nature, topology of genomes.
- Protein coding strategies.
- Cell / tissue / host tropism (i.e. specificty of virus for host).
- Pathogenesis.
Methods for studying viruses
- Electron microscopy,
- Cell culture,
- Animal models,
- Serology,
- Sequence analysis,
- other molecular techniques
2 Virus Classification Systems (name/basic defn.)
- The Classifcal System (viruses grouped according to shared physical properties).
- Baltimore System (based on central dogma, DNA to RNA to protein; categorized by how viruses produce mRNA to code their genomes).
Classical Classification System of Viruses: Shared Physical Properties use to classify:
- Nature of genetic material in the virion (DNA or RNA).
- Symmetry of capsid (helical or icosahedral).
- Naked or Enveloped.
- Dimension of virion & its capsid.
Baltimore system of Virus Classficiation: Reasoning behind
All viruses are parasites of host mRNA translation machinery and therefore, must produce mRNA to decode their genomes; thus, the Baltimore system categorizes viruses based on how they produce mRNA.
Viral Genomes: basics
Consist of either DNA or RNA; have incredible diversity of structure & composition
Viral genome: Plus (+) strands
mRNA containing translatable open reading frame.
“Ribosome ready” = able to be translated into protein.
ALSO the DNA of equivalent polarity to the mRNA.
Viral genome: Minus (-) strands
Complementary sequence to mRNA
DNA from which mRNA is copied.
Two key principles of viral genomes:
- Genomes serve as the template for synthesis of progeny genome; therefore, there is a small, finite number of nucleic acid copying strategies.
- The function of viral genomes once inside the cell is to make mRNA; .
ALL VIRUSES ARE PARACITES OF HOST CELLS mRNA TRANSLATION SYSTEM
Thus, viral genomes must provide mechanisms for the synthesis of mRNA.
Using the two key principles of viral genomes, viral genome configurations can be placed in SEVEN CLASSES:
- dsDNA
- gapped circular dsDNA
- ssDNA
- dsRNA
- ss(+)RNA
- ss(-)RNA
- ss(+)RAN with DNA intermediate
Rearranging the 7 classes of viral genome configuration to match the Baltimore system of viral classification
Group dsDNA genomes with gapped circular dsDNA genomes
Viral Biology of Self-assembly
They are metastable structures subject to conformational changes to promote delivery of genome to appropriate host cell.
This viral assembly / disassembly are targets for several anti-viral drugs.
Overview of Functions of Virion Proteins
- Protection of genome.
- Delivery of genome.
- Mediate interaction with host.
Virion Proteins’ Functions: Protection of genome
- Asssembly of stable protective protein shell.
- Specific recognition & packaging of nucleic acid genome.
- In some cases, interact with host cell membranes to form the envelope.
Virion Proteins’ Functions: Delivery of Genome
- Specific binding to external receptors of host cells.
- Transmission of specific signals that induce uncoating of genome.
- Induce fusion w/host cell membranes.
- Interact with internal components of host cells to direct transport of genome to form the envelope.
Virion Proteins’ Functions: Mediate interactiosn w/ the host
- Interact w/ host components to ensure efficient viral replication.
- Interact w/ cellular components to transport to sites of assembly.
- Interact w/host immune system.
Viral particle arrangements / creation
Created by symmetrical arrangement of many identical or highly similar proteins in ways that provide max contact & non-covalent bonding between them.
Capside proteins of different viruses…
have highly conserved structural motifs, alothough protein sequences themselves may not be conserved
Genome delivery occurs because…
Structure is not permanently bonded together (non-covalent) and thus can be taken apart to release genome to initated new infection.
Thus, the functions of viral particles depend on very stable interactions of their components during assembly, egress, & transmission, BUT also ready reversal of these interactions during entry & uncoating in a host cell.
Self-assembly & Symmetrical viral structure
Symmetry solves difficulty of viral self-assembly.
All but the most complex animal viruses display either helical or icosahedral symmetry.
How symmetric architectures is achieved…
Achieved through the organized self assembly of viral proteins:
Each subunit engages in “identical” non-covalent bonding contactes with its neighbors…
This repitition of “identical” interactions among a limited number of proteins results in a regular structure. If “non-identical” bonds form, aggregates or clumps are made. Thus, the symmetry & form of a viral structure depends on the spatial patterns of the interactions.