Ring-stacked capsids of white spot syndrome virus and structural transitions with genome ejection

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add2796
• Publication Date: 2023-02-22T18:57:21Z
• Authors: Meiling Sun; Mingdong Liu; Hong Shan; Kang Li; Peng Wang; Huarong Guo; Yaqi Zhao; Rui Wang; Yiwen Tao; Liuyan Yang; Ying Zhang; Xiaoming Su; Yunhui Liu; Chunyang Li; James Lin; Xiu-Lan Chen; Yu-Zhong Zhang; Qing-Tao Shen
• Keywords: White spot syndrome; Cryo-Electron Microscopy

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the largest DNA viruses and major pathogen responsible for white in crustaceans. The WSSV capsid critical genome encapsulation ejection exhibits rod-shaped oval-shaped structures during viral life cycle. However, detailed architecture structural transition mechanism remain unclear. Here, using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we obtained a cryo-EM model were able to characterize its ring-stacked assembly mechanism. Furthermore, identified an from intact virions analyzed capsids induced by high salinity. These transitions, which decrease internal pressure, always accompany release mostly eliminate infection host cells. Our results demonstrate unusual offer insights into pressure-driven release.