Unveiling the Hidden Rules of Spherical Viruses Using Point Arrays.

ABSTRACT: Since its introduction, the Triangulation number has been the most successful and ubiquitous scheme for classifying spherical viruses. However, despite its many successes, it fails to describe the relative angular orientations of proteins, as well as their radial mass distribution within the capsid. It also fails to provide any critical insight into sites of stability, modifications or possible mutations. We show how classifying spherical viruses using icosahedral point arrays, introduced by Keef and Twarock, unveils new geometric rules and constraints for understanding virus stability and key locations for exterior and interior modifications. We present a modified fitness measure which classifies viruses in an unambiguous and rigorous manner, irrespective of local surface chemistry, steri

SUBMITTER: Wilson DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7232142 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature