Fig. 3.

Comparison of the root-mean-squared deviation (rmsd) with respect to an atomic model (PDB ID code 5L93) of a CA-SP1 monomer within a complete hexamer (A) and incomplete hexamers missing two Gag subunits (B–D). The CA_NTD (CA_CTD) of the analyzed monomer is colored blue (red), while the remaining CA_NTD (CA_CTD) domains are colored cyan (orange). From B–D, a Gag subunit adjacent to the analyzed monomer is removed such that the analyzed monomer maintains its CA_CTD dimer contact and one of two CA_NTD trimer contacts (B), maintains its CA_CTD dimer contact and no CA_NTD trimer contacts (C), and lacks both CA_CTD dimer and CA_NTD trimer contacts (D); monomers that are missing are depicted in black. We note that the states analyzed in A–C are observed by cryo-EM while D is not and serves as a basis for comparison. Each box bounds the upper and lower quartiles with the central line indicating the median, while the whiskers show the extrema of the distributions. Blue (red) boxes refer to the analyzed CA_NTD (CA_CTD) monomer_. The dotted line marks a rmsd of 0.3 nm and serves as a guide to the eye. See also SI Appendix, Fig. S4.