Visualizing influenza A virus assembly by in situ cryo-electron tomography.

ABSTRACT: Influenza A virus (IAV) forms pleomorphic particles that package eight ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs), each carrying a distinct RNA genome segment. vRNPs assemble in the nucleus and undergo selective sorting during Rab11a-mediated trafficking to the plasma membrane. Virion assembly is orchestrated by matrix protein 1 (M1), which forms a layer beneath the viral envelope containing hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). However, molecular details of vRNP distribution, cytosolic trafficking, and coordination of IAV assembly remains unclear. Using in situ cryo-ET, we reveal that HA-containing membranes provide Rab11a-dependent platforms for membrane-assisted vRNP clustering, reducing inter-vRNP distances. In the absence of HA, vRNPs cluster on NA-containing membranes and virus assembl

SUBMITTER: Wachsmuth-Melm M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550032 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature