structure of viruses
…of protein subunits known as capsomeres, which usually associate with, or are found close to, the virion nucleic acid.
Do host cells have capsomeres?
When the viral particle has entered a host cell, the host cellular enzymes digest the capsid and its constituent capsomeres, thereby exposing the naked genetic material (DNA/RNA) of the virus, which subsequently enters the replication cycle.
Where are capsids often found?
Capsid assembly takes place in the nucleus, the site of genome replication. Capsid assembly is complex, and occurs with the help of scaffold proteins. Nascent capsids are filled with viral DNA (through the portal complex) in a process that requires energy.
