Index >> Bacteriophages - Part One >> Capsid of øX174

Capsid of øX174 - The protein shell or capsid of φX174 is assembled from 12 morphological units or capsomeres. Each capsomere is actually a cluster of five structure units. Thus the virion is built up of 60 molecules of the main coat protein (MW 48,000).

Although the capsomeres are shown as spheres ill the diagram, recent evidence suggests that they are probably angular, hollow, pentagonal structures.