Structurally similar woodchuck and human hepadnavirus core proteins have distinctly different temperature dependences of assembly

Charge detection mass spectrometry for the analysis of viruses and virus-like particles

Heterogeneity usually restricts conventional mass spectrometry to molecular weights less than around a megadalton. As a single-particle technique, charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) overcomes this limitation. In CDMS, the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio and charge are measured simultaneously for individual ions, giving a direct mass measurement for each ion. Recent applications include the analysis of viruses, virus-like particles, vaccines, heavily glycosylated proteins, and gene therapy vectors.

Constrained evolution of overlapping genes in viral host adaptation: Acquisition of glycosylation motifs in hepadnaviral precore/core genes

Hepadnaviruses use extensively overlapping genes to expand their coding capacity, especially the precore/core genes encode the precore and core proteins with mostly identical sequences but distinct functions. The precore protein of the woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is N-glycosylated, in contrast to the precore of the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) that lacks N-glycosylation. To explore the roles of the N-linked glycosylation sites in precore and core functions, we substituted T77 and T92 in the WHV precore/core N-glycosylation motifs (⁷⁵NIT⁷⁷ and ⁹⁰NDT⁹²) with the corresponding HBV residues (E77 and N92) to eliminate the sequons. Conversely, these N-glycosylation sequons were introduced into the HBV precore/core gene by E77T and N92T substitutions. We found that N-glycosylation increased the levels of secreted precore gene products from both HBV and WHV. However, the HBV core (HBc) protein carrying the E77T substitution was defective in supporting virion secretion, and during infection, the HBc E77T and N92T substitutions impaired the formation of the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the critical viral DNA molecule responsible for establishing and maintaining infection. In cross-species complementation assays, both HBc and WHV core (WHc) proteins supported all steps of intracellular replication of the heterologous virus while WHc, with or without the N-glycosylation sequons, failed to interact with HBV envelope proteins for virion secretion. Interestingly, WHc supported more efficiently intracellular cccDNA amplification than HBc in the context of either HBV or WHV. These findings reveal novel determinants of precore secretion and core functions and illustrate strong constraints during viral host adaptation resulting from their compact genome and extensive use of overlapping genes.

Hepadnaviruses infect a wide range of hosts. The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) are two closely related hepadnaviruses. In contrast to the WHV precore protein, which is N-glycosylated, the HBV precore protein lacks N-glycosylation. As precore and core proteins expressed from the overlapping precore/core genes share most of their sequences but have distinct functions, we investigated the roles of the N-linked glycosylation sequons in HBV and WHV precore/core genes. Our results revealed an important role of the N-linked glycosylation sequons in enhancing precore secretion levels and regulating core protein functions in virion secretion and infection. Furthermore, cross-species complementation assays using HBV and WHV core proteins and HBV or WHV genomes defective in core protein expression indicated that both HBV and WHV core proteins could support intracellular viral replication but not virion secretion of the heterologous virus. These results provide novel insights into the evolution of overlapping genes during host adaptation of hepadnaviruses.

Applications of Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single-particle technique where the masses of individual ions are determined from simultaneous measurement of their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and charge. Masses are determined for thousands of individual ions, and then the results are binned to give a mass spectrum. Using this approach, accurate mass distributions can be measured for heterogeneous and high-molecular-weight samples that are usually not amenable to analysis by conventional mass spectrometry. Recent applications include heavily glycosylated proteins, protein complexes, protein aggregates such as amyloid fibers, infectious viruses, gene therapies, vaccines, and vesicles such as exosomes.

Analysis of Recombinant Adenovirus Vectors by Ion Trap Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry: Accurate Molecular Weight Measurements beyond 150 MDa

Adenovirus is one of the largest nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses. It is widely used as a gene therapy vector and has recently received a lot of attention as a novel vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2. Human adenovirus 5 (HAdV5) contains over 2500 protein molecules and has a 36 kbp genome. Adenovirus is well beyond the range of conventional mass spectrometry, and it was unclear how well such a large complex could be desolvated. Here, we report molecular weight (MW) distributions measured for HAdV5 and for 11 recombinant AdV vectors with genomes of varying lengths. The MW distributions were recorded using ion trap charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS), a single-particle technique where m/z and charge are measured for individual ions. The results show that ions as large as 150 MDa can be effectively desolvated and accurate MW distributions obtained. The MW distribution for HAdV5 contains a narrow peak at 156.1 MDa, assigned to the infectious virus. A smaller peak at 129.6 MDa is attributed to incomplete particles that have not packaged a genome. The ions in the 129.6 MDa peak have a much lower average charge than those in the peak at 156.1 MDa. This is attributed to the empty particles missing some or all of the fibers that decorate the surface of the virion. The MW measured for the mature virus (156.1 MDa) is much larger than that predicted from sequence masses and copy numbers of the constituents (142.5 MDa). Measurements performed for recombinant AdV as a function of genome length show that for every 1 MDa increase in the genome MW, the MW of the mature virus increases by around 2.3 MDa. The additional 1.3 MDa is attributed to core proteins that are copackaged with the DNA. This observation suggests that the discrepancy between the measured and expected MWs for mature HAdV5 is due to an underestimate in the copy numbers of the core proteins.

Complete and cooperative in vitro assembly of computationally designed self-assembling protein nanomaterials

Recent advances in computational methods have enabled the predictive design of self-assembling protein nanomaterials with atomic-level accuracy. These design strategies focus exclusively on a single target structure, without consideration of the mechanism or dynamics of assembly. However, understanding the assembly process, and in particular its robustness to perturbation, will be critical for translating this class of materials into useful technologies. Here we investigate the assembly of two computationally designed, 120-subunit icosahedral complexes in detail using several complementary biochemical methods. We found that assembly of each material from its two constituent protein building blocks was highly cooperative and yielded exclusively complete, 120-subunit complexes except in one non-stoichiometric regime for one of the materials. Our results suggest that in vitro assembly provides a robust and controllable route for the manufacture of designed protein nanomaterials and confirm that cooperative assembly can be an intrinsic, rather than evolved, feature of hierarchically structured protein complexes.

Recent advances in computational methods have enabled the predictive design of self-assembling protein nanomaterials with atomic-level accuracy. Here authors investigate the assembly of two computationally designed, 120-subunit icosahedral complexes and find that assembly of each material from its two constituent protein building blocks was highly cooperative.

Should Virus Capsids Assemble Perfectly? Theory and Observation of Defects

Although published structural models of viral capsids generally exhibit a high degree of regularity or symmetry, structural defects might be expected because of the fluctuating environment in which capsids assemble and the requirement of some capsids for disassembly before genome delivery. Defective structures are observed in computer simulations, and are evident in single-particle cryoelectron microscopy studies. Here, we quantify the conditions under which defects might be expected, using a statistical mechanics model allowing for ideal, defective, and vacant sites. The model displays a threshold in affinity parameters below which there is an appreciable population of defective capsids. Even when defective sites are not allowed, there is generally some population of vacancies. Analysis of single particles in cryoelectron microscopy micrographs yields a confirmatory ≳15% of defective particles. Our findings suggest structural heterogeneity in virus capsids may be under-appreciated, and also points to a nontraditional strategy for assembly inhibition.

Dynamics of Hepatitis B Virus Capsid Protein Dimer Regulate Assembly through an Allosteric Network

While there is an effective vaccine for Human Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), 257 million people have chronic infections for which there is no cure. The assembly process for the viral capsid is a potential therapeutic target. In order to understand the capsid assembly process, we investigated the dimeric building blocks of the capsid. To understand what blocks assembly, we took advantage of an assembly incompetent mutant dimer, Cp149-Y132A, located in the interdimer interface. This mutation leads to changes in protein dynamics throughout the structure of the dimer as measured by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). To further understand how the HBV capsid assembles, the homologue woodchuck HBV (WHV) capsid protein dimer (Cp) was used. WHV is more stable than HBV in HDX-MS and native mass spectrometry experiments. Because the WHV Cp assembles more rapidly into viral capsids than HBV, it was suspected that an increase in stability of the intradimer interface and/or in the contact region leads to increased assembly rates. The differences in dynamics when comparing HBV and human Cp149-Y132A as well as the differences in dynamics when comparing the HBV and WHV Cps allowed us to map an allosteric network within the HBV dimer. Through a careful comparison of structure, stability, and dynamics using four different capsid protein dimers, we conclude that protein subunit dynamics regulate HBV capsid assembly.

Weighing synthetic polymers of ultra-high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials: What can we learn from charge detection mass spectrometry?

Advances in soft ionization techniques for mass spectrometry (MS) of polymeric materials make it possible to determine the masses of intact molecular ions exceeding megadaltons. Interfacing MS with separation and fragmentation methods has additionally led to impressive advances in the ability to structurally characterize polymers. Even if the gap to the megadalton range has been bridged by MS for polymers standards, the MS-based analysis for more complex polymeric materials is still challenging. Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single-molecule method where the mass and the charge of each ion are directly determined from individual measurements. The entire molecular mass distribution of a polymer sample can be thus accurately measured. Described in this perspective paper is how molecular weight distribution as well as charge distribution can provide new insights into the structural and compositional studies of synthetic polymers and polymeric nanomaterials in the megadalton to gigadalton range of molecular weight. The recent multidimensional CDMS studies involving couplings with separation and dissociation techniques will be presented. And, finally, an outlook for the future avenues of the CDMS technique in the field of synthetic polymers of ultra-high molar mass and polymeric nanomaterials will be provided.

Structural Differences between the Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Core Protein in the Dimer and Capsid States Are Consistent with Entropic and Conformational Regulation of Assembly

Hepadnaviruses are hepatotropic enveloped DNA viruses with an icosahedral capsid. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes chronic infection in an estimated 240 million people; woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), an HBV homologue, has been an important model system for drug development. The dimeric capsid protein (Cp) has multiple functions during the viral life cycle and thus has become an important target for a new generation of antivirals. Purified HBV and WHV Cp spontaneously assemble into 120-dimer capsids. Though they have 65% identity, WHV Cp has error-prone assembly with stronger protein-protein association. We have taken advantage of the differences in assemblies to investigate the basis of assembly regulation. We determined the structures of the WHV capsid to 4.5-Å resolution by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and of the WHV Cp dimer to 2.9-Å resolution by crystallography and examined the biophysical properties of the dimer. We found, in dimer, that the subdomain that makes protein-protein interactions is partially disordered and rotated 21° from its position in capsid. This subdomain is susceptible to proteolysis, consistent with local disorder. WHV assembly shows similar susceptibility to HBV antiviral molecules, suggesting that HBV assembly follows similar transitions. These data show that there is an entropic cost for assembly that is compensated for by the energetic gain of burying hydrophobic interprotein contacts. We propose a series of stages in assembly that incorporate a disorder-to-order transition and structural shifts. We suggest that a cascade of structural changes may be a common mechanism for regulating high-fidelity capsid assembly in HBV and other viruses.IMPORTANCE Virus capsids assemble spontaneously with surprisingly high fidelity. This requires strict geometry and a narrow range of association energies for these protein-protein interactions. It was hypothesized that requiring subunits to undergo a conformational change to become assembly active could regulate assembly by creating an energetic barrier and attenuating association. We found that woodchuck hepatitis virus capsid protein undergoes structural transitions between its dimeric and its 120-dimer capsid states. It is likely that the closely related hepatitis B virus capsid protein undergoes similar structural changes, which has implications for drug design. Regulation of assembly by structural transition may be a common mechanism for many viruses.

Assembly Properties of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein Mutants Correlate with Their Resistance to Assembly-Directed Antivirals

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid or core protein (Cp) can self-assemble to form an icosahedral capsid. It is now being pursued as a target for small-molecule antivirals that enhance the rate and extent of its assembly to yield empty and/or aberrant capsids. These small molecules are thus called core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs). We sought to understand the physical basis of CpAM-resistant mutants and how CpAMs might overcome them. We examined the effects of two closely related CpAMs, HAP12 and HAP13, which differ by a single atom but have drastically different antiviral activities, on the assembly of wild-type Cp and three T109 mutants (T109M, T109I, and T109S) that display a range of resistances. The T109 side chain forms part of the mouth of the CpAM binding pocket. A T109 mutant that has substantial resistance even to a highly active CpAM strongly promotes normal assembly. Conversely, a mutant that weakens assembly is more susceptible to CpAMs. In crystal and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of T=4 capsids with bound CpAMs, the CpAMs preferentially fit into two of four quasi-equivalent sites. In these static representations of capsid structures, T109 does not interact with the neighboring subunit. However, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of an intact capsid show that T109 of one of the four classes of CpAM site has a hydrophobic contact with the neighboring subunit at least 40% of the time, providing a physical explanation for the mutation's ability to affect capsid stability, assembly, and sensitivity to CpAMs.IMPORTANCE The HBV core protein and its assembly into capsids have become important targets for development of core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) as antivirals. Naturally occurring T109 mutants have been shown to be resistant to some of these CpAMs. We found that mutation of T109 led to changes in capsid stability and recapitulated resistance to a weak CpAM, but much less so than to a strong CpAM. Examination of HBV capsid structures, determined by cryo-EM and crystallography, could not explain how T109 mutations change capsid stability and resistance. However, by mining data from a microsecond-long all-atom molecular dynamics simulation, we found that the capsid was extraordinarily flexible and that T109 can impede entry to the CpAM binding site. In short, HBV capsids are incredibly dynamic and molecular mobility must be considered in discussions of antiviral mechanisms.

Determining Energies and Cross Sections of Individual Ions Using Higher-Order Harmonics in Fourier Transform Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry (FT-CDMS)

A general method for in situ measurements of the energy of individual ions trapped and weighed using charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is described. Highly charged (> 300 e), individual polyethylene glycol (PEG) ions are trapped and oscillate within an electrostatic trap, producing a time domain signal. A segmented Fourier transform (FT) of this signal yields the temporal evolution of the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of ion motion throughout the 500-ms trap time. The ratio of the fundamental frequency and second harmonic (HAR) depends on the ion energy, which is an essential parameter for measuring ion mass in CDMS. This relationship is calibrated using simulated ion signals, and the calibration is compared to the HAR values measured for PEG ion signals where the ion energy was also determined using an independent method that requires that the ions be highly charged (> 300 e). The mean error of 0.6% between the two measurements indicates that the HAR method is an accurate means of ion energy determination that does not depend on ion size or charge. The HAR is determined dynamically over the entire trapping period, making it possible to observe the change in ion energy that takes place as solvent evaporates from the ion and collisions with background gas occur. This method makes it possible to measure mass changes, either from solvent evaporation or from molecular fragmentation (MSⁿ), as well as the cross sections of ions measured using CDMS. Graphical Abstract.

All-atom molecular dynamics of the HBV capsid reveals insights into biological function and cryo-EM resolution limits

The hepatitis B virus capsid represents a promising therapeutic target. Experiments suggest the capsid must be flexible to function; however, capsid structure and dynamics have not been thoroughly characterized in the absence of icosahedral symmetry constraints. Here, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are leveraged to investigate the capsid without symmetry bias, enabling study of capsid flexibility and its implications for biological function and cryo-EM resolution limits. Simulation results confirm flexibility and reveal a propensity for asymmetric distortion. The capsid’s influence on ionic species suggests a mechanism for modulating the display of cellular signals and implicates the capsid’s triangular pores as the location of signal exposure. A theoretical image reconstruction performed using simulated conformations indicates how capsid flexibility may limit the resolution of cryo-EM. Overall, the present work provides functional insight beyond what is accessible to experimental methods and raises important considerations regarding asymmetry in structural studies of icosahedral virus capsids.

Infrared laser dissociation of single megadalton polymer ions in a gated electrostatic ion trap: the added value of statistical analysis of individual events

In this study, we report the unimolecular dissociation mechanism of megadalton SO₃-containing poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) polymer cations and anions with the aid of infrared multiphoton dissociation coupled to charge detection ion trap mass spectrometry. A gated electrostatic ion trap ("Benner trap") is used to store and detect single gaseous polymer ions generated by positive and negative polarity in an electrospray ionization source. The trapped ions are then fragmented due to the sequential absorption of multiple infrared photons produced from a continuous-wave CO₂ laser. Several fragmentation pathways having distinct signatures are observed. Highly charged parent ions characteristically adopt a distinctive "stair-case" pattern (assigned to the "fission" process) whereas low charge species take on a "funnel like" shape (assigned to the "evaporation" process). Also, the log-log plot of the dissociation rate constants as a function of laser intensity between PAMPS positive and negative ions is significantly different.

Suspected Hepadnavirus Association with a Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Hepatocellular carcinomas are the most commonly reported neoplasm of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). In several other closely related Sciuridae species, infection with species-specific hepadnaviruses is associated with the development of these tumours, but such a hepadnavirus has not yet been identified in any prairie dog species, although its presence has been hypothesized previously. An adult prairie dog was humanely destroyed due to progressive illness and the identification of a cranial abdominal mass that was determined on histopathology to be a hepatocellular carcinoma. Deep sequencing of the tumour tissue identified the presence of a hepadnavirus, similar in its genetic structure to woodchuck hepatitis virus. Electron microscopy showed the presence of viral particles similar in structure to other hepadnaviral particles. This report suggests that a hepadnavirus may be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinomas in the prairie dog.

A molecular breadboard: Removal and replacement of subunits in a hepatitis B virus capsid

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein is a model system for studying assembly and disassembly of icosahedral structures. Controlling disassembly will allow re-engineering the 120 subunit HBV capsid, making it a molecular breadboard. We examined removal of subunits from partially crosslinked capsids to form stable incomplete particles. To characterize incomplete capsids, we used two single molecule techniques, resistive-pulse sensing and charge detection mass spectrometry. We expected to find a binomial distribution of capsid fragments. Instead, we found a preponderance of 3 MDa complexes (90 subunits) and no fragments smaller than 3 MDa. We also found 90-mers in the disassembly of uncrosslinked HBV capsids. 90-mers seem to be a common pause point in disassembly reactions. Partly explaining this result, graph theory simulations have showed a threshold for capsid stability between 80 and 90 subunits. To test a molecular breadboard concept, we showed that missing subunits could be refilled resulting in chimeric, 120 subunit particles. This result may be a means of assembling unique capsids with functional decorations.

Single-molecule mass spectrometry

In single-molecule mass spectrometry, the mass of each ion is measured individually; making it suitable for the analysis of very large, heterogeneous objects that cannot be analyzed by conventional means. A range of single-molecule mass spectrometry techniques has been developed, including time-of-flight with cryogenic detectors, a quadrupole ion trap with optical detection, single-molecule Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, charge detection mass spectrometry, quadrupole ion traps coupled to charge detector plates, and nanomechanical oscillators. In addition to providing information on mass and heterogeneity, these techniques have been used to study impact craters from cosmic dust, monitor the assembly of viruses, elucidate the fluorescence dynamics of quantum dots, and much more. This review focuses on the merits of each of these technologies, their limitations, and their applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 36:715-733, 2017.

Charge detection mass spectrometry: weighing heavier things

Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is a single molecule method where the mass of each ion is directly determined from individual measurements of its mass-to-charge ratio and charge.

Biomedical and Catalytic Opportunities of Virus-Like Particles in Nanotechnology

Within biology, molecules are arranged in hierarchical structures that coordinate and control the many processes that allow for complex organisms to exist. Proteins and other functional macromolecules are often studied outside their natural nanostructural context because it remains difficult to create controlled arrangements of proteins at this size scale. Viruses are elegantly simple nanosystems that exist at the interface of living organisms and nonliving biological machines. Studied and viewed primarily as pathogens to be combatted, viruses have emerged as models of structural efficiency at the nanoscale and have spurred the development of biomimetic nanoparticle systems. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are noninfectious protein cages derived from viruses or other cage-forming systems. VLPs provide incredibly regular scaffolds for building at the nanoscale. Composed of self-assembling protein subunits, VLPs provide both a model for studying materials' assembly at the nanoscale and useful building blocks for materials design. The robustness and degree of understanding of many VLP structures allow for the ready use of these systems as versatile nanoparticle platforms for the conjugation of active molecules or as scaffolds for the structural organization of chemical processes. Lastly the prevalence of viruses in all domains of life has led to unique activities of VLPs in biological systems most notably the immune system. Here we discuss recent efforts to apply VLPs in a wide variety of applications with the aim of highlighting how the common structural elements of VLPs have led to their emergence as paradigms for the understanding and design of biological nanomaterials.

The Structural Biology of Hepatitis B Virus: Form and Function

Hepatitis B virus is one of the smallest human pathogens, encoded by a 3,200-bp genome with only four open reading frames. Yet the virus shows a remarkable diversity in structural features, often with the same proteins adopting several conformations. In part, this is the parsimony of viruses, where a minimal number of proteins perform a wide variety of functions. However, a more important theme is that weak interactions between components as well as components with multiple conformations that have similar stabilities lead to a highly dynamic system. In hepatitis B virus, this is manifested as a virion where the envelope proteins have multiple structures, the envelope-capsid interaction is irregular, and the capsid is a dynamic compartment that actively participates in metabolism of the encapsidated genome and carries regulated signals for intracellular trafficking.

Examining the Heterogeneous Genome Content of Multipartite Viruses BMV and CCMV by Native Mass Spectrometry

Since the concept was first introduced by Brian Chait and co-workers in 1991, mass spectrometry of proteins and protein complexes under non-denaturing conditions (native MS) has strongly developed, through parallel advances in instrumentation, sample preparation, and data analysis tools. However, the success rate of native MS analysis, particularly in heterogeneous mega-Dalton (MDa) protein complexes, still strongly depends on careful instrument modification. Here, we further explore these boundaries in native mass spectrometry, analyzing two related endogenous multipartite viruses: the Brome Mosaic Virus (BMV) and the Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV). Both CCMV and BMV are approximately 4.6 megadalton (MDa) in mass, of which approximately 1 MDA originates from the genomic content of the virion. Both viruses are produced as mixtures of three particles carrying different segments of the genome, varying by approximately 0.1 MDA in mass (~2%). This mixture of particles poses a challenging analytical problem for high-resolution native MS analysis, given the large mass scales involved. We attempt to unravel the particle heterogeneity using both Q-TOF and Orbitrap mass spectrometers extensively modified for analysis of very large assemblies. We show that manipulation of the charging behavior can provide assistance in assigning the correct charge states. Despite their challenging size and heterogeneity, we obtained native mass spectra with resolved series of charge states for both BMV and CCMV, demonstrating that native MS of endogenous multipartite virions is feasible. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry Identifies Preferred Non-Icosahedral Polymorphs in the Self-Assembly of Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Capsids

Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) is prone to aberrant assembly in vitro and can form a broad distribution of oversized particles. Characterizing aberrant assembly products is challenging because they are both large and heterogeneous. In this work, charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) is used to measure the distribution of WHV assembly products. CDMS is a single-particle technique where the masses of individual ions are determined from simultaneous measurement of each ion's charge and m/z (mass-to-charge) ratio. Under relatively aggressive, assembly promoting conditions, roughly half of the WHV assembly products are T=4 capsids composed of exactly 120 dimers while the other half are a broad distribution of larger species that extends to beyond 210 dimers. There are prominent peaks at around 132 dimers and at 150 dimers. In part, the 150 dimer complex can be attributed to elongating a T=4 capsid along its 5-fold axis by adding a ring of hexamers. However, most of the other features cannot be explained by existing models for hexameric defects. Cryo-electron microscopy provides evidence of elongated capsids. However, image analysis reveals that many of them are not closed but have "spiral-like" morphologies. The CDMS data indicate that oversized capsids have a preference for growth by addition of 3 or 4 dimers, probably by completion of hexameric vertices.

Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry for Single Ions with an Uncertainty in the Charge Measurement of 0.65 e

Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) provides a direct measure of the mass of individual ions through nondestructive, simultaneous measurements of the mass to charge ratio and the charge. To improve the accuracy of the charge measurement, ions are trapped and recirculated through the charge detector. By substantially extending the trapping time, the uncertainty in the charge determination has been reduced by a factor of two, from 1.3 elementary charges (e) to 0.65 e. The limit of detection (the smallest charge that can be reliably measured) has been reduced by about the same proportion, from 13 to 7 e. The more precise charge measurements enable a substantial improvement in the mass resolution, which is critical for applications of CDMS to mixtures of high mass ions.

Core protein: A pleiotropic keystone in the HBV lifecycle

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a small virus whose genome has only four open reading frames. We argue that the simplicity of the virion correlates with a complexity of functions for viral proteins. We focus on the HBV core protein (Cp), a small (183 residue) protein that self-assembles to form the viral capsid. However, its functions are a little more complicated than that. In an infected cell Cp modulates almost every step of the viral lifecycle. Cp is bound to nuclear viral DNA and affects its epigenetics. Cp correlates with RNA specificity. Cp assembles specifically on a reverse transcriptase-viral RNA complex or, apparently, nothing at all. Indeed Cp has been one of the model systems for investigation of virus self-assembly. Cp participates in regulation of reverse transcription. Cp signals completion of reverse transcription to support virus secretion. Cp carries both nuclear localization signals and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) binding sites; both of these functions appear to be regulated by contents of the capsid. Cp can be targeted by antivirals - while self-assembly is the most accessible of Cp activities, we argue that it makes sense to engage the broader spectrum of Cp function. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "From the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B: an unfinished story."