Crystallization, structural diversity and anisotropy effects in 2D arrays of icosahedral viruses

Abstract

We investigate two-dimensional (2D) assembly of the icosahedral turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) under cationic lipid monolayers at the aqueous solution-vapor interface. The 2D crystallization of TYMV has been achieved by enhancing electrostatically induced interfacial adsorption, an approach recently demonstrated for another virus. In situ X-ray scattering reveals two close-packed 2D crystalline phases of TYMV that are distinct from the previously reported hexagonal and centered square(√2 × √2) arrays of TYMV. One of the newly observed phases arises from either a dimeric double-square (2 × 1) or tetrameric square (2 × 2) unit cell. The other is a rhombic crystal with a lattice angle of 80°. The two observed crystal phases are substantially less dense (by over10%) than a 2D lattice of TYMV could be according to its known size and shape, indicating that local anisotropic interparticle interactions play a key role in stabilizing these crystals. TYMV's anisotropy attributes and numerical analysis of 2D arrays of virus-shaped particles are used to derive a model for the rhombic crystal in which the particle orientation is consistent with the electrostatic lipid-TYMV attraction and the interparticle contacts exhibit steric complementarity. The interplay between particle anisotropy and packing is contrasted between the rhombic crystal model and the square(√2 × √2) crystal. This study highlights how the high symmetry and subtle asphericity of icosahedral particles enrich the variety and complexity of ordered 2D structures that can be generated through self-assembly. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.