The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid of a virion is called a

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Viruses are composed of a nucleic acid genome surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Together the genome and capsid are referred to as the nucleocapsid. Viral capsids are composed of many individual subunits called capsomeres. Capsomeres assemble into an icosahedral or irregular-shaped capsid. Irregular-shaped capsids usually assume a helical form. Icosahedral-shaped capsids are cubical with 20 flat sides, whereas helical capsids are spiral shaped. Some of the larger viruses have a lipid-containing envelope that surrounds the capsid. In addition, many viruses have glycoprotein spikes that extend from the surface of the virus, acting as attachment projections or as enzymes. The entire virus, including nucleic acid, capsid, envelope, and glycoprotein spikes, is called the virion, or viral particle.

The Protein Coat That Surrounds the Nucleic Acid of a Virion