The outer protein protective shell of a virus, which protects the viral nucleic acid. Capsids are composed of repeating units (capsomers or capsomeres) of CAPSID PROTEINS which when assembled together form either an icosahedral or helical shape.
The outer protein protective shell of a virus, which protects the viral nucleic acid. Capsids are composed of repeating units (capsomers or capsomeres) of CAPSID PROTEINS which when assembled together form either an icosahedral or helical shape.
A stable intermediate structure, occurring in some viruses which load their VIRAL GENOME into this empty viral shell after it is assembled. During transformation of the procapsid into the mature VIRUS PARTICLE, some procapsid proteins, such as stabilizing viral scaffolding proteins, are ejected, and are therefore not part of the mature capsid structure.
