[Genome Packaging Mechanism of Influenza A Virus]. 2015

Takeshi Noda
Division of Ultrastructural Virology, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo.

The influenza A virus genome consists of eight-segmented, single-stranded, negative-sense RNAs. Each genomic viral RNA segment (vRNA) encodes different viral proteins that are necessary for efficient virus replication, and forms a ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) together with viral nucleoproteins and an RNA polymerase complex. Later in infection, progeny virions, which are released from the plasma membrane of the infected cell, must incorporate the eight separate vRNAs to be infectious. However, the mechanism by which the segmented vRNAs are incorporated into each progeny virion remains unclear. To elucidate the genome packaging mechanism of influenza A virus, we examined the architecture of RNPs within progeny virions using several electron microscopic analyses. We demonstrated that each progeny virion incorporates eight RNPs arranged in a specific pattern, in which seven RNPs surround the central one. Such characteristic arrangement is found in all influenza A virus strains tested here, suggesting that the mechanism by which well-organized eight RNPs is incorporated into virion is common to influenza A viruses. In addition, there seem to be physical interactions among the eight RNPs via nucleic acid-like structures, suggesting that there are specific interactions among the eight vRNAs in the form of RNPs. These results indicate that influenza A virion selectively packages a complete set of eight separate vRNAs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009980 Influenza A virus The type species of the genus ALPHAINFLUENZAVIRUS that causes influenza and other diseases in humans and animals. Antigenic variation occurs frequently between strains, allowing classification into subtypes and variants. Transmission is usually by aerosol (human and most non-aquatic hosts) or waterborne (ducks). Infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae,Avian Orthomyxovirus Type A,FLUAV,Fowl Plague Virus,Human Influenza A Virus,Influenza Virus Type A,Influenza Viruses Type A,Myxovirus influenzae-A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae-A suis,Myxovirus pestis galli,Orthomyxovirus Type A,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Avian,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Human,Orthomyxovirus Type A, Porcine,Pestis galli Myxovirus,Fowl Plague Viruses,Influenza A viruses,Myxovirus influenzae A hominis,Myxovirus influenzae A suis,Myxovirus, Pestis galli,Myxoviruses, Pestis galli,Pestis galli Myxoviruses,Plague Virus, Fowl,Virus, Fowl Plague
D012261 Ribonucleoproteins Complexes of RNA-binding proteins with ribonucleic acids (RNA). Ribonucleoprotein
D016679 Genome, Viral The complete genetic complement contained in a DNA or RNA molecule in a virus. Viral Genome,Genomes, Viral,Viral Genomes

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