Real-time tracking reveals the step-by-step assembly of virus-like particle shells
Researchers have successfully observed the real-time self-assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs), a long-standing goal in virology. Published in Nature, the study by Asor et al. utilizes advanced techniques to track the kinetics and energetics of protein shell formation. This breakthrough allows scientists to analyze how identical protein blocks interact to form stable, rigid structures that can later disassemble to release viral genomes. The findings provide a detailed molecular view of the assembly process, moving beyond static snapshots to dynamic observation.
