Electron cryotomography of SARS-CoV-2 virions reveals cylinder-shaped particles with a double layer RNP assembly
Lesley J. Calder, Thomas Calcraft, Saira Hussain, Ruth Harvey, Peter B. Rosenthal
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a lipid-enveloped Betacoronavirus and cause of the Covid-19 pandemic. To study the three-dimensional architecture of the virus, we perform electron cryotomography (cryo-ET) on SARS-Cov-2 virions and three variants revealing particles of regular cylindrical morphology. The ribonucleoprotein particles packaging the genome in the virion interior form a dense, double layer assembly with a cylindrical shape related to the overall particle morphology. This organisation suggests structural interactions important to virus assembly.
Topics & Concepts
VirologyRibonucleoproteinCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)BetacoronavirusVirus2019-20 coronavirus outbreakCylinderParticle (ecology)BiologyRNAMedicineGeneticsGeneGeometryOutbreakMathematicsInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseaseEcologyPathologySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchBacteriophages and microbial interactionsViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology