Question

What is the main structural protein that forms the capsid of a virus?

• A. Glycoprotein
• B. Capsomere
• C. Nucleoprotein
• D. Lipoprotein

Hint:

Capsid = Made of capsomeres → Protein units forming viral coat.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The capsid is the protein shell that surrounds and protects the viral genetic material.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The capsid is not a single giant protein; it is built from many repeating individual protein subunits.
These individual structural subunits are called capsomeres.
Capsomeres self-assemble to form the overall geometric shape of the virus (e.g., icosahedral or helical).
Glycoproteins are usually part of the envelope spikes.
Nucleoproteins are proteins complexed with the viral genome.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The main structural proteins forming the capsid are Capsomeres.