Structure of simian virus 40 at 3.8-A resolution

Nature. 1991 Nov 28;354(6351):278-84. doi: 10.1038/354278a0.

Abstract

The crystallographically determined structure of simian virus 40 shows that the 72 pentamers of viral protein VP1, which form the outer shell, have identical conformations except for the C-terminal arms of their subunits. Five arms emerge from each pentamer and insert into neighbouring pentamers. This tying together of standard building blocks allows for the required variability in packing geometry without sacrificing specificity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Capsid / ultrastructure*
  • Capsid Proteins*
  • Computer Graphics
  • Crystallography
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morphogenesis
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Simian virus 40 / ultrastructure*
  • Virion / ultrastructure
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Capsid Proteins
  • Disulfides
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • VP1 protein, polyomavirus