capsid /cap·sid/ (kap´sid) the shell of protein that protects the nucleic acid of a virus; it is composed of structural units, or capsomers.
Capsid
capsid
cap·sid (k p s d)n. The protein shell that surrounds a virus particle. |
Capsid
The outer protein coat of a virus.
Mentioned in: Noroviruses
capsid
[kap′sid]
Etymology: L, capsa, box
the layer of protein enveloping the genome of a virion. A capsid is composed of structural units called capsomeres. Its symmetry may be cubic or helical.
capsid
the shell of protein that protects the nucleic acid of a virus; it is composed of individual morphological units called capsomers. For icosahedral viruses, there are two kinds of capsomers called pentamers, which occupy the 12 corner positions of the icosahedral shell, and hexamers, which occupy the face and edges. The number of hexamers varies between different viruses. The capsomers of helical viruses are composed of a single polypeptide and are also called protomers. All viruses of animals, except for poxviruses which have a complex structure, are minimally composed of a nucleocapsid which is the capsid surrounding the nucleic acid. In addition some viruses have an envelope surrounding the nucleocapsid.
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