Structural variability and complexity of the giant Pithovirus sibericum particle revealed by high-voltage electron cryo-tomography and energy-filtered electron cryo-microscopy

The Pithoviridae giant virus family exhibits the largest viral particle known so far, a prolate spheroid up to 2.5 mu m in length and 0.9 mu m in diameter. These particles show significant variations in size. Little is known about the structure of the intact virion due to technical limitations with conventional electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) when imaging thick specimens. Here we present the intact structure of the giant Pithovirus sibericum particle at near native conditions using high-voltage electron cryo-tomography (cryo-ET) and energy-filtered cryo-EM. We detected a previously undescribed low-density outer layer covering the tegument and a periodical structuring of the fibres in the striated apical cork. Energy-filtered Zernike phase-contrast cryo-EM images show distinct substructures inside the particles, implicating an internal compartmentalisation. The density of the interior volume of Pithovirus particles is three quarters lower than that of the Mimivirus. However, it is remarkably high given that the 600 kbp Pithovirus genome is only half the size of the Mimivirus genome and is packaged in a volume up to 100 times larger. These observations suggest that the interior is densely packed with macromolecules in addition to the genomic nucleic acid.

Miyazaki, NaoyukiNIPS, Okazaki, Aichi 4448585, Japan. (författare)
Song, ChihongNIPS, Okazaki, Aichi 4448585, Japan. (författare)
Maia, FilipeUppsala universitet,Molekylär biofysik(Swepub:uu)fimai103 (författare)
Reddy, Hemanth K.N.Uppsala universitet,Molekylär biofysik(Swepub:uu)hemna453 (författare)
Abergel, ChantalCNRS, UMR 7256, IMM FR 3479, Struct & Genom Informat Lab, F-13288 Marseille, France. (författare)
Claverie, Jean-MichelCNRS, UMR 7256, IMM FR 3479, Struct & Genom Informat Lab, F-13288 Marseille, France.;Aix Marseille Univ, F-13288 Marseille, France.;AP HM, F-13005 Marseille, France. (författare)
Hajdu, JanosUppsala universitet,Molekylär biofysik,Inst Phys AS CR, Vvi, Na Slovance 2, Prague 18221 8, Czech Republic.(Swepub:uu)janohajd (författare)
Svenda, MartinUppsala universitet,Molekylär biofysik(Swepub:uu)msv31659 (författare)
Murata, KazuyoshiNIPS, Okazaki, Aichi 4448585, Japan. (författare)
Uppsala universitetMolekylär biofysik (creator_code:org_t)

Av författaren/redakt...: Okamoto, Kenta; Miyazaki, Naoyuk ...; Song, Chihong; Maia, Filipe; Reddy, Hemanth K ...; Abergel, Chantal; visa fler...; Claverie, Jean-M ...; Hajdu, Janos; Svenda, Martin; Murata, Kazuyosh ...; visa färre...

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