Preliminary X-ray crystallographic investigation of human parvovirus B19

Abstract

Crystals that diffract X rays to at least 8 A resolution have been grown from human 1319 parvovirus empty capsids. These particles consist of VP-2 derived from a baculovirus expression system. This is possibly the first time that a self-assembled empty viral capsid, grown in other than normal host cells, has been crystallized. Partial X-ray diffraction data have been collected using synchrotron radiation. The space group isP2, 3witha = 362A˚A. The particle position in the crystal cell is given, at least roughly, from packing considerations.