Potato virus X (PVX) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) filamentous plant virus belonging to the Alphaflexiviridae family, considered in recent years as a tool for nanotechnology applications. We present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the PVX particle at a resolution of 2.2 Å. The well-defined density of the coat proteins and of the genomic RNA allowed a detailed analysis of protein-RNA interactions, including those mediated by solvent molecules. The particle is formed by repeated segments made of 8.8 coat proteins, forming a left-handed helical structure. The RNA runs in an internal crevice along the virion, packaged in 5-nucleotide repeats in which the first four bases are stacked in the classical way, while the fifth is rotated and nearly perpendicular. The resolution of the structure described here suggests a mechanism for the virion assembly and potentially provides a platform for the rational design of antiviral compounds and for the use of PVX in nanotechnology.

中文翻译：

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马铃薯X病毒的原子结构，该病毒是Alphaflexiviridae家族的原型。

马铃薯X病毒（PVX）是属于Alphaflexiviridae家族的一种正向单链RNA（ssRNA）丝状植物病毒，近年来被认为是纳米技术应用的工具。我们提出的PVX粒子的冷冻电子显微镜结构的分辨率为2.2。外壳蛋白和基因组RNA的明确定义的密度允许对蛋白质-RNA相互作用（包括由溶剂分子介导的相互作用）进行详细分析。该粒子由8.8种外壳蛋白组成的重复片段形成，形成左旋螺旋结构。RNA沿着病毒体在内部缝隙中运行，包装成5个核苷酸的重复序列，其中前四个碱基以经典方式堆叠，而第五个碱基旋转且几乎垂直。