Structural studies of influenza virus RNPs by electron microscopy indicate molecular contortions within NP supra-structures.

ABSTRACT: Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes of influenza viruses are composed of multiple copies of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) that can form filamentous supra-structures. RNPs package distinct viral genomic RNA segments of different lengths into pleomorphic influenza virions. RNPs also function in viral RNA transcription and replication. Different RNP segments have varying lengths, but all must be incorporated into virions during assembly and then released during viral entry for productive infection cycles. RNP structures serve varied functions in the viral replication cycle, therefore understanding their molecular organization and flexibility is essential to understanding these functions. Here, we show using electron tomography and image analyses that isolated RNP filaments are not rigid helical

SUBMITTER: Gallagher JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5360478 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature