In molecular biology, the Tymovirus coat protein refers to the
protein coat of a
virus order
Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to:
* Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood
* Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
, named ''Tymovirales''. More specifically this protein signature is found only in coat
proteins from the related tymoviruses. The coat protein (CP) is also known as the virion protein. The
virus coat is composed of 180 copies of the coat protein arranged in an
icosahedral shell.
Function
Fundamentally, the viral coat protein functions as protection for the genetic material inside the virus, and as an aid to infecting the host cell with virus DNA. Essentially, the coat protein (CP) is a link between the genetic material and infecting the host. Since the genetic material in the virus consists of
RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) are nucleic acids. Along with lipids, proteins, and carbohydra ...
the coat protein contains RNA binding sites. Additionally, the coat protein contains conserved
histadine
Histidine (symbol His or H) is an essential amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated –NH3+ form under biological conditions), a carboxylic acid group (which is in the d ...
amino acid residues which help the virus to spread.
Structure
There are three subunits named, A, B and C. It contains a
beta-jelly roll motif which consists of 9
beta-strands.
References
{{InterPro content, IPR000574
Protein domains
Tymovirales