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The structure of Pariacoto virus reveals a dodecahedral cage of duplex RNA

Nature Structural Biology volume 8, pages 77–83 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The 3.0 Å resolution crystal structure of Pariacoto virus (PaV) reveals extensive interactions between portions of the viral RNA genome and the icosahedral capsid. Under the protein shell of the T = 3 quasi equivalent capsid lies a dodecahedral cage composed of RNA duplex that accounts for ∼35% of the single-stranded RNA genome. The highly basic N-terminal regions (residues 7–54) of the subunits, forming pentamers (A subunits) are clearly visible in the density map and make numerous interactions with the RNA cage. The C-terminal segments (residues 394–401) of the A subunits lie in channels near the quasi three-fold axes. Electron cryo-microscopy and image reconstruction of PaV particles clearly show the dodecahedral RNA cage.

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Figure 1: Sequence alignment of PaV with FHV.
Figure 2: The structure of PaV.
Figure 3: The C-terminal segments.
Figure 4: The extended N-terminus of subunit A.
Figure 5: Stereo view of the electron density of the RNA duplex.
Figure 6: Three-dimensional reconstruction of PaV.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff at The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) and at the BioCARS sector of The Advanced Photon Source (APS) for help in data collection, M. Tihova and K. Dryden for help in electron microscopy, V.S. Reddy for stimulating discussion, and A. Palmenberg and J.-Y. Sgro for RNA secondary structure predictions. This work was supported by NIH grants to L.A.B., J.E.J. and M.Y. During this work M.Y. was an Established Investigator of the American Heart Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb and is now a recipient of a Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Liang Tang, Tianwei Lin, Mark Yeager & John E. Johnson

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, S. Birmingham, BBRB 373/17, 845 19th Street, 35294, Alabama, USA

    Karyn N. Johnson & L. Andrew Ball

  3. Department of Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Mark Yeager

  4. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Scripps Clinic, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Mark Yeager

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Correspondence to John E. Johnson.

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Tang, L., Johnson, K., Ball, L. et al. The structure of Pariacoto virus reveals a dodecahedral cage of duplex RNA. Nat Struct Mol Biol 8, 77–83 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/83089

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