The Structure of Native Influenza Virion Ribonucleoproteins

Abstract

Influenza Revealed Influenza virus, a single-stranded RNA virus, is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. The influenza ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex, which carries out viral replication and transcription, is central to the virus life-cycle and to viral host adaptation (see the Perspective by Tao and Zheng ). Structural characterization of the viral RNP has been challenging, but Moeller et al. (p. 1631 , published online 22 November) and Arranz et al. (p. 1634 , published online 22 November) now report the structure and assembly of this complex, using cryo-electron microscopy and negative-stain electron microscopy. The structures reveal how the viral polymerase, RNA genome, and nucleoprotein interact in the RNP providing insight into mechanisms for influenza genome replication and transcription.