Multiscale Electron Microscopy for the Study of Viral Replication Organelles.
Viruses
; 13(2)2021 01 28.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1058918
ABSTRACT
During infection with positive-strand RNA viruses, viral RNA synthesis associates with modified intracellular membranes that form unique and captivating structures in the cytoplasm of the infected cell. These viral replication organelles (ROs) play a key role in the replicative cycle of important human pathogens like coronaviruses, enteroviruses, or flaviviruses. From their discovery to date, progress in our understanding of viral ROs has closely followed new developments in electron microscopy (EM). This review gives a chronological account of this progress and an introduction to the different EM techniques that enabled it. With an ample repertoire of imaging modalities, EM is nowadays a versatile technique that provides structural and functional information at a wide range of scales. Together with well-established approaches like electron tomography or labeling methods, we examine more recent developments, such as volume scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in situ cryotomography, which are only beginning to be applied to the study of viral ROs. We also highlight the first cryotomography analyses of viral ROs, which have led to the discovery of macromolecular complexes that may serve as RO channels that control the export of newly-made viral RNA. These studies are key first steps towards elucidating the macromolecular complexity of viral ROs.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
RNA Viruses
/
Virus Replication
/
Microscopy, Electron
/
Viral Replication Compartments
Language:
English
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
V13020197
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