Squeezing protein shells: how continuum elastic models, molecular dynamics simulations, and experiments coalesce at the nanoscale.

ABSTRACT: The current rapid growth in the use of nanosized particles is fueled in part by our increased understanding of their physical properties and ability to manipulate them, which is essential for achieving optimal functionality. Here we report detailed quantitative measurements of the mechanical response of nanosized protein shells (viral capsids) to large-scale physical deformations and compare them with theoretical descriptions from continuum elastic modeling and molecular dynamics (MD). Specifically, we used nanoindentation by atomic force microscopy to investigate the complex elastic behavior of Hepatitis B virus capsids. These capsids are hollow, approximately 30 nm in diameter, and conform to icosahedral (5-3-2) symmetry. First we show that their indentation behavior, which is symmetry-a

SUBMITTER: Roos WH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2920642 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature