Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) capsid protein (CP) subunit interactions: implications for viral assembly

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) capsid protein (CP) forms the capsule that encapsidates the viral genomic ssDNA. We have analyzed the homotypic interaction capacity of full-length and mutated CR We found that full-lengt h CP interacts with itself. Truncation of the protein from the C-terminal l ed to diminution of the self-interaction process. Also, the N-terminal regi on of the CP seemed to be necessary for the interaction. As the two deletio n mutants interacted successfully with the wildtype protein, while they fai led to self-interact, we suggest that the N-terminal amino acids interact w ith amino acids of the C-terminal region. Changes in CP homotypic interacti on capacity were detected when mutations in the middle portion of the prote in were introduced.