Characterization of the HBV capsids. (a)
HBV capsids separated
on a sucrose gradient showing the extracted fraction (red brace) used
for cryo-EM analysis. (b) A representative cryo-EM micrograph of a
frozen-hydrated HBV specimen. Black arrowhead, T =
3 capsid. White arrowhead, T = 4 capsid. Red arrowhead,
capsid with defects. Scale bar, 50 nm. (c) Selected class averages
show a T = 3 average, a T = 4 average,
and three averages with defects, respectively. The red dashed lines
indicate regions of weak density on the capsid. Scale bar = 10 nm.
The averages in panel (c) correspond to classes 3, 7, 20, 8, and 1,
respectively, in Figure S2 of SI.