answersLogoWhite

0

What are capsomeres?

Updated: 9/14/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Best Answer

Capsomeres are the individual proteins that make the capsid - the protective protein coat around a virus's nucleic acid. Some capsomeres can be composed of a single protein or mosaic. Capsomeres/Capsids come in a variety of shapes (helical, polyhedral, enveloped, complex)

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What are capsomeres?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

An icosahedron is composed minimally how many capsomeres?

12


How do capsomeres help in viruses?

Answer by Techsupportcapsid provides the second major criterion for the classification of viruses. The capsid surrounds the virus and is composed of a finite number of protein subunits known as capsomeres, which usually associate with, or are found close to, the virion nucleic acid.


What is the coating around a virus's core made of?

THe outer shell of a virus is called the capsid, and consists of various proteins, which are arranged to enable the virus to enter and control a host cell. These proteins are called protomers and are assembled in units called capsomeres.


What is the the outer protein coat of a virus called?

It is called the capsid, and is usually composed of separate sub-units called capsomeres.


What do you call the protein shell of a virus?

A capsid is the protein shell of a virus. It consists of several oligomeric structural subunits made of protein called protomers. The observable 3-dimensional morphological subunits, which may or may not correspond to individual proteins, are called capsomeres. The capsid encloses the genetic material of the virus.


List and describe the structural components of viruses?

Infectious particles consisting of nucleic acid encased in a protein coat and, in some cases, a membranous envelope. The smallest viruses are only 20 nm in diameter. The genome of viruses may consist of double-stranded DNA, single-stranded DNA, double-stranded RNA, or single-stranded RNA, depending on the kind of virus. Lack the enzymes for metabolism and the ribosomes for protein synthesis. Identify host cell (needed for reproduction) by a lock and key type system of outer proteins.


How do viruses attach to host cells?

Viruses attach to living cells by binding to the cell receptors. The receptor site is very much like a jig-saw puzzle and the virus must be shaped to fit the site and to lock in. The virus first sticks to the cell membrane of the host cell. The virus then inserts its DNA/RNA into the cell's cytoplasm. Once inside the host cell, the virus is uncoated, i.e. its capsid is dispersed, exposing the DNA/RNA. The DNA/RNA then takes over the host cell. The virus makes the cell produce new viral DNA/RNA and new capsomeres (proteins make up the capsid). The nucleic acid and the capsomeres are assembled in the cell to make new virus particles which escape from the cell. The cell might lyse and release new viruses to infect other cells. Examples of viral infection are cold sore, measles and chicken pox.


What are the parts of bacteriophage and their?

the parts are: the head or the capsid which contains the plasmid. it has protein subunits called capsomeres. another part is the sheath which contains the viral DNA tail fibers, base pate and pin for attachment to the host's cell.


What does the typical virus look like?

Typically the protein coat, or capsid, of an individual virus particle, or virion, is composed of multiple copies of one or several types of protein subunits, or capsomeres. Some viruses contain enzymes, and some have an outer membranous envelope. Many viruses have striking geometrically regular shapes, with helical structure as in tobacco mosaic virus, polyhedral (often icosahedral) symmetry as in herpes virus, or more complex mixtures of arrangements as in large viruses, such as the pox viruses and the larger bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages . Certain viruses, such as bacteriophages, have complex protein tails. The inner viral genetic material-the nucleic acid-may be double stranded, with two complementary strands, or single stranded; it may be deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). The nucleic acid specifies information for the synthesis of from a few to 50 different proteins, depending on the type of virus ...


What is the structure of a typical virus?

A virus is basically DNA or RNA (single- or double-stranded)surrounded by a protein capsule. Typically the protein coat, or capsid, of an individual virus particle, or virion, is composed of multiple copies of one or several types of protein subunits, or capsomeres. Some viruses contain enzymes, and some have an outer membranous envelope. Many viruses have striking geometrically regular shapes, with helical structure as in tobacco mosaic virus, polyhedral (often icosahedral) symmetry as in herpes virus, or more complex mixtures of arrangements as in large viruses, such as the pox viruses and the larger bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages . Certain viruses, such as bacteriophages, have complex protein tails. The inner viral genetic material -the nucleic acid- may be double stranded, with two complementary strands, or single stranded; it may be deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA). The nucleic acid specifies information for the synthesis of from a few to as many as 50 different proteins, depending on the type of virus.