Figure 4.

Models of possible structures for the trapped intermediates in HBV T = 4 assembly. T = 4 capsids missing (a) 3; (b) 9; (c) 10; (d) 12; and (e) 16 Cp149 dimers. (f) shows a side view of the T = 4 capsid missing 16 dimers, illustrating its slightly elliptical appearance. There are two classes of dimers in a HBV T = 4 capsid: blue dimers extend from pentameric to hexameric vertices, and purple dimers extend between hexameric vertices.²² In all of the proposed structures, the dimers surrounding the hole are in contact with at least three other dimers.