rAAV Average Molecular Weight

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a parvovirus and is composed of three structural proteins and a linear, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) genome of approximately 4.7 kb (17). The particle has icosahedral symmetry and a diameter of 20 to 24 nm. The three capsid proteins of AAV, VP1, VP2, and VP3, have molecular masses of 87, 72, and 62 kDa, respectively, and a ratio of approximately 1:1:10 in the mature particle.  rAAV is packaged and assembled from 60 capsid VP monomers, with a diameter of 260 Å. The average molecular weight of rAAV is 3746 kDa.