Shape selection and mis-assembly in viral capsid formation by elastic frustration
Abstract
The successful assembly of a closed protein shell (or capsid) is a key step in the replication of viruses and in the production of artificial viral cages for bio/nanotechnological applications. During self-assembly, the favorable binding energy competes with the energetic cost of the growing edge and the elastic stresses generated due to the curvature of the capsid. As a result, incomplete structures such as open caps, cylindrical or ribbon-shaped shells may emerge, preventing the successful replication of viruses. Using elasticity theory and coarse-grained simulations, we analyze the conditions required for these processes to occur and their significance for empty virus self-assembly. We find that the outcome of the assembly can be recast into a universal phase diagram showing that viruses with high mechanical resistance cannot be self-assembled directly as spherical structures. The results of our study justify the need of a maturation step and suggest promising routes to hinder viral infections by inducing mis-assembly.
Data availability
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files.
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DGAPA IN-110516)
- Carlos I Mendoza
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DGAPA IN-103419)
- Carlos I Mendoza
Gobierno de Espana (FIS2015-67837-P)
- David Reguera
MINECO/FEDER, UE (PGC2018-098373-B-I00)
- David Reguera
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Reviewing Editor
- Pierre Sens, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, France
Version history
- Received: October 7, 2019
- Accepted: April 6, 2020
- Accepted Manuscript published: April 21, 2020 (version 1)
- Version of Record published: April 24, 2020 (version 2)
Copyright
© 2020, Mendoza & Reguera
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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