(677f) Mechanical Properties of Viral Capsids From Equilibrium Thermal Fluctuations

We have developed a theoretical framework for computing elastic properties of viral capsids by examining the fluctuation spectrum of the capsid surface at thermal equilibrium by projecting onto a spherical harmonic basis set [1]. This method has allowed us to calculate elastic properties of the capsid, which are important for nanotechnology design and also for understanding the morphology of spherical viruses.  We have also made strong connection to AFM nanoindentation experiments by showing that the AFM deformation is captured by excitation of the l=1 spherical harmonic mode [2].  Elastic moduli calculated by examining the equilibrium thermal fluctuations of the only the l=1 mode are in good agreement with the moduli calculated from nanoindentation experiments. Studies on several viruses will be covered including sesbania mosaic virus (SeMV), cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), Hong Kong 97 (HK97), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and norovirus.

[1] ER May, CL Brooks III. Determination of Viral Capsid Elastic Properties from Equilibrium Thermal Fluctuations, Phys Rev Lett 106, 188101 (2011).

[2] ER May, A Aggarwal, WS Klug, CL Brooks III. Viral Capsid Equilibrium Dynamics Reveals Nonuniform Elastic Properties, Biophys J (2011) in press.