Question 32

(Multiple Choice)

Use the following information to answer the questions below.
Some viruses can be crystallized and their structures analyzed. One such virus is Desmodium, or yellow mottle virus, which infects beans. This is a member of the tymovirus group and has a single-stranded RNA genome of ~6,300 nucleotides. Its virion is 25-30 nm in diameter, and is made up of 180 copies of a single capsid protein that self-associate to form each capsomere, which has icosahedral symmetry with 20 facets.
-If this virus has capsomeres with 20 facets, how many proteins form each one?


A) 1
B) 5
C) ~6
D) ~20
E) ~180

Answer