Direct visualization of the putative portal in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus capsid by cryoelectron tomography.
Genetic and biochemical studies have suggested the existence of a bacteriophage-like, DNA-packaging/ejecting portal complex in herpesviruses capsids, but its arrangement remained unknown. Here, we report the first visualization of a unique vertex in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) capsid by cryoelectron tomography, thus providing direct structural evidence for the existence of a portal complex in a gammaherpesvirus. This putative KSHV portal is an internally localized, umbilicated structure and lacks all of the external machineries characteristic of portals in DNA bacteriophages.
Deng
Binbin
B
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin St., MSB 2.280, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
O'Connor
Christine M
CM
Kedes
Dean H
DH
Zhou
Z Hong
ZH
D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary
D036022:Capsid Proteins