Viruses Can Be Taken Apart And Separated Into Capsid Protein ✓ Solved

Viruses Can Be Taken Apart Separated Into Capsid Proteins And Nucle

Viruses can be taken apart (separated) into capsid proteins and nucleic acid. When placed back together, these two parts will self-assemble into new infectious virus particles. You purify the NUCLEIC ACID FROM TOMATO mosaic virus and the PROTEIN FROM BEAN mosaic virus. Then you combine these two parts, and they self-assemble into infectious viruses. Which one of the following should happen when these newly assembled (hybrid) viruses are rubbed (with an abrasive) onto BEAN LEAVES?

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Viruses are unique infectious agents composed of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) encased within a protective protein coat called a capsid. They are obligate intracellular parasites, relying on host cell machinery for replication. Viral structure integrity is essential for infectivity, and their ability to infect specific host cells depends largely on the compatibility between viral surface proteins and host cell receptors. This paper discusses the implications of creating hybrid viruses by combining nucleic acids and capsid proteins from different viruses, focusing on their infectivity and pathogenicity when applied to a host organism such as bean plants.

The Concept of Virus Assembly and Disassembly

Viruses can be disassembled into their constituent parts—nucleic acids and capsid proteins—using various biochemical techniques. Conversely, these components can self-assemble under suitable conditions, forming infectious virions. For example, in laboratory settings, scientists can isolate viral genomes and capsid proteins separately, then recombine them to generate functional viruses, which can be used for research purposes such as vaccine development (Levin, 2017).

Creating Hybrid Viruses by Recombination

The process described involves isolating the nucleic acid from Tomato mosaic virus, a plant pathogen, and capsid proteins from Bean mosaic virus, another plant virus. When these components are combined, they self-assemble into hybrid viruses. These engineered viruses contain the genetic material of Tomato mosaic virus but are encapsidated within the capsid proteins of Bean mosaic virus. This experimental approach allows researchers to explore host specificity, virus infectivity, and immune recognition mechanisms. The question arises: if these hybrid viruses are applied to bean leaves, what will be their infectious potential?

Host Specificity and Viral Surface Proteins

The infectivity of a virus depends critically on the interactions between viral surface proteins and host cell receptors. The capsid proteins on the virus surface mediate attachment and entry into host cells. When the capsid proteins originate from Bean mosaic virus, they retain the ability to recognize and attach to bean plant cells. The genetic material inside, derived from Tomato mosaic virus, may not necessarily influence initial attachment but could impact replication once inside the host (Murphy et al., 2019).

Expected Outcomes of Applying Hybrid Viruses to Bean Leaves

Given that the capsid proteins are from Bean mosaic virus, it is highly likely that these hybrid viruses will be capable of binding to and infecting bean leaves. The critical determinant of infectivity is the capsid's affinity for host cell receptors, not the source of the nucleic acid. Therefore, when these recombinant viruses are rubbed onto bean leaves, they should be able to attach, enter, and initiate infection, assuming the nucleic acid is compatible and can replicate within bean cells.

Implications and Significance

This experiment demonstrates how viral surface proteins dictate host range and specificity. The ability of the hybrid virus to infect bean leaves supports the idea that the capsid proteins primarily determine host infection capability. Such research enhances our understanding of virus-host interactions and can inform strategies for controlling viral diseases in agriculture. It also highlights potential risks associated with genetic engineering of viruses, emphasizing biosafety considerations.

Conclusion

In summary, hybrid viruses created by combining nucleic acids from Tomato mosaic virus and capsid proteins from Bean mosaic virus are expected to infect bean leaves when applied, because the capsid proteins remain capable of recognizing and binding to host cells. This confirms the critical role of capsid surface proteins in mediating host specificity and virus infectivity.

References

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• Murphy, F. A., et al. (2019). Medical Virology. Elsevier.
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