What macromolecules are found in all viruses?
What macromolecules are found in all viruses?
Nucleic acid is an important class of macromolecules found in all cells and viruses. The functions of nucleic acids have to do with the storage and expression of genetic information.
What two molecules make up the basic composition of a virus?
The essential components of infectious viral particles are nucleic acid (the genome) and protein. In addition, all enveloped viruses contain lipid in the envelope and carbohydrate in their glycoprotein peplomers (as well as that in the nucleic acid).
What type of macromolecule is the head of the virus made of?
Virion, an entire virus particle, consisting of an outer protein shell called a capsid and an inner core of nucleic acid (either ribonucleic or deoxyribonucleic acid—RNA or DNA). The core confers infectivity, and the capsid provides specificity to the virus.
What makes up the particle of a virus?
The entire infectious virus particle, called a virion, consists of the nucleic acid and an outer shell of protein. The simplest viruses contain only enough RNA or DNA to encode four proteins. The simplest viruses contain only enough RNA or DNA to encode four proteins.
What kind of DNA does a virus contain?
Class I viruses contain a single molecule of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). In the case of the most common type of class I animal virus, viral DNA enters the cell nucleus, where cellular enzymes transcribe the DNA and process the resulting RNA into viral mRNA. Examples of these viruses include the following:
How many proteins are in a virion virus?
The entire infectious virus particle, called a virion, consists of the nucleic acid and an outer shell of protein. The simplest viruses contain only enough RNA or DNA to encode four proteins. The most complex can encode 100 – 200 proteins.
What makes up the lipid membrane of a virus?
Some viruses, such as the now famous coronavirus, also have a lipid membrane that surrounds the capsid. Studies on viruses indicate that this lipid membrane is “stolen” from host cells that the virus infects. Moreover, the lipid membrane of a virus contains specific viral proteins that are “tagged” with carbohydrates (sugars).