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S Cusack

Publications and source records attributed to S Cusack.

104 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Structure of the Top a-t component of alfalfa mosaic virus. A non-icosahedral virion.

Neutron-scattering in combination with quasi-elastic light-scattering and electron microscopy was used to derive a model for the capsid structure of the Top a-t component of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV-Ta-t). In the electron microscope, AMV-Ta-t appears as an irregular ellipsoidal particle with apparent dimensions 275 (+/- 31) A X 225 (+/- 22) A. Assuming that the particles are monodisperse, model calculations show that the neutron-scattering data are best explained by an oblate ellipsoidal shape for the virion with external dimensions 284 A X 284 A X 216 A. Based on this result, and in combination with the known composition of the virion, it is suggested that the capsid structure could be based on a deltahedron with 52 pointgroup symmetry and comprising 120 subunits. Such a model would imply a greater deviation from equivalent subunit interactions than normally necessary in icosahedral capsids. The neutron and photon correlation data, however, do not allow us to rule out the possibility that Top a-t is a slightly polydisperse preparation of irregular prolate shapes with mean dimensions 312 A X 232 A X 232 A. Both possibilities support the concept of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein being capable of a wide range of intersubunit interactions, this flexibility resulting in considerable polymorphism in capsid structures.

Capsid↗
PubMed1983

Solution scattering study on the structure of alfalfa mosaic virus strain VRU.

Neutron-scattering with contrast variation has been used to derive a model for the radial distribution of protein and RNA in the VRU strain of alfalfa mosaic virus. The RNA is distributed uniformly throughout the interior of the capsid up to a radius of 65 A and the protein coat extends from 65 to 100 A. It was found necessary to distinguish between two regions within the protein coat: one with mainly hydrophobic amino acids and another with more hydrophylic amino acids. Only a very small part of the protein penetrates into the RNA. Using X-ray scattering, no indication was found for long or short-range order in the packing of the RNA in the virion.

Medicago sativa↗