Atomic force microscopy investigation of the giant mimivirus

Mimivirus was investigated by atomic force microscopy in its native state following serial degradation by lysozyme and bromelain. The 750-nm diameter virus is coated with a forest of glycosylated protein fibers of lengths about 140 nm with diameters 1.4 nm. Fibers are capped with distinctive ellipsoidal protein heads of estimated Mr=25 kDa. The surface fibers are attached to the particle through a layer of protein covering the capsid, which is...