Question

for viruses, what is assembly， what is packaging and what is encapsidation? are they the same thing?

Answer 1

Answer. When the virus starts replicating, then multiple number of proteins starts collecting in surrounding around the nucleic acids and these proteins make connections with these nucleic acid molecules either by interacting with the help of hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding or some other kind of bonding. So this assembly of proteins around nucleic cid particles is called viral assembly and the process of interaction between proteins and nucleic acids helps in establishing a capsid coat around the nucleic acid molecules in order to protect them from external factors and this process of covering is called encapsidation. And viral packaging refers to the process, in which viral genetic material is packaged into the preformed capsids and a motor protein is required to perform this action. This motor protein is driven by hydrolysing an ATP molecule.