Retrovirus Shell Proteins

Retroviral nucleocapsides (shell proteins) often contain zinc centers as structure-determining units. The Zn²⁺ ions generally connect the protein components by coordination of three cysteine residues and a histidine unit.

The nucleocapsid proteins are found in the shells of intact retroviruses, present with around 1000 copies. This leads to an unusally high zinc concentration (1 mmol/l).

  Coordination of the Zn²⁺ ions by a histidine residue and three cysteine residues

  General view of a human influenza virus with microphoto