title: Cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of triatoma virus particles: a clue to unravel genome delivery and capsid disassembly.
abstract: Triatoma virus (TrV) is a member of the insect virus family Dicistroviridae and consists of a small, non-enveloped capsid that encloses its positive-sense ssRNA genome. Using cryo-transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction techniques combined with fitting of the available crystallographic models, this study analysed the capsids corresponding to mature and several RNA-empty TrV particles. After genome release, the resulting reconstruction of the empty capsids displayed no prominent conformational changes with respect to the full virion capsid. The results showed that RNA delivery led to empty capsids with an apparent overall intact protein shell and suggested that, in a subsequent step, empty capsids disassemble into small symmetrical particles. Contrary to what is observed upon genome release in mammalian picornaviruses, the empty TrV capsid maintained a protein shell thickness and size identical to that in full virions.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, B° Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.|Unidad de Biofisica (CSIC, UPV/EHU), PO Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agirre
authors.affiliation: IBS, Institut de Biologie Structurale Jean-Pierre Ebel, UMR 5075 CNRS-CEA-UJF, 41 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goret
authors.affiliation: IBS, Institut de Biologie Structurale Jean-Pierre Ebel, UMR 5075 CNRS-CEA-UJF, 41 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LeGoff
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Biofisica (CSIC, UPV/EHU), PO Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Eugenia
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CCT-La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), 2#584 (1900) La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.affiliation: IBS, Institut de Biologie Structurale Jean-Pierre Ebel, UMR 5075 CNRS-CEA-UJF, 41 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navaza
authors.affiliation: Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia, B° Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.|Unidad de Biofisica (CSIC, UPV/EHU), PO Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: D M A
authors.initials: DMA
authors.lastname: Guérin
authors.affiliation: IBS, Institut de Biologie Structurale Jean-Pierre Ebel, UMR 5075 CNRS-CEA-UJF, 41 rue Jules Horowitz, F-38027 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002213:Capsid / Q000378:metabolism*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003461:Crystallography; D056629:Dicistroviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D055550:Protein Stability; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014224:Triatoma / Q000821:virology*; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral