Figure 1.

TMV structure and bioconjugation scheme. (A) Computer reconstructed image showing TMV structure using PyMOL with coordinates from Protein Data Bank. The single stranded RNA inside TMV particle is represented by the black helix. The tyrosine 139 (Y139) residues of individual TMV coat proteins subunits are colored in blue while all other amino acid residues are washed out in gray. (B) An enlarged portion of TMV coat protein [from the boxed area in (A)], showing possible distances (dashed red lines, measured in Angstroms) among the blue Y139. (C) Scheme of the TMV bioconjugation reaction to tether RGD peptides via CuAAC reactions to alkyne-functionalized Y139 residues.