Preliminary X‐ray diffraction analysis of crystals of tomato aspermy virus (TAV)

Abstract

Tomato aspermy virus (TAV) is a member of the T = 3 cucumovirus group, and the chrysanthemum strain (C-TAV) has been crystallized in a form suitable for X-ray structural analysis. The crystals, which grow in 14-17% ethanol at pH 8.5, are of orthorhombic space group I222 with unit cell dimensions of a = 295.1 A, b = 320.5 A, and c = 383.6 A. There are two T = 3 virus particles in the unit cell, which means that they must be centered at 0,0,0 and 1/2, 1/2, 1/2 with icosahedral 222 symmetry elements coincident with crystallographic symmetry operators. The asymmetric unit of the crystals, therefore, contains one quarter of a virus particle, or 45 capsid subunits. Native diffraction data to 4 A resolution have been collected using synchrotron radiation, though data appear to be present beyond that resolution.

The structure of tomato aspermy virus by X-ray crystallography

“…TAV solutions were concentrated to about 14 mg/ml before crystallization at 18°C and pH 8.5 using 14-17% ethanol and 100 mM Tris as previously reported by Canady et al (1995). Crystals were grown by vapor diffusion using sitting drops in Cryschem plates (Hampton Research, Laguna Niguel, CA) sealed with clear plastic tape.…”