Vinothan Manoharan
Knobler
Department of Physics
Harvard University
Description
Prof Manoharan Knobler Lecture Flyer
Title: The Self-Assembly of Simple RNA Viruses
Abstract: Self-assembly is the process by which molecules or particles spontaneously form ordered structures, driven by interactions and thermal fluctuations. The term “self-assembly” was originally coined to describe the formation of simple RNA viruses, which consist of RNA and coat proteins that form an icosahedral shell (called a capsid) that protects the RNA. Some of these viruses can be assembled in vitro, in the absence of any host cell factors. This result suggests that we can understand RNA virus self-assembly from the perspective of statistical mechanics. The central question is how a random process like self-assembly can lead to a high yield of well-formed viruses. I will discuss some potential answers to that question based on experiments that measure the kinetics of assembly of individual viruses — experiments that began as a result of a collaboration with UCLA.