ABSTRACT
The influenza virus genome consists of eight viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs), each consisting of a copy of the polymerase, one of the genomic RNA segments and multiple copies of the nucleoprotein arranged in a double helical conformation. vRNPs are macromolecular machines responsible for messenger RNA synthesis and genome replication, that is, the formation of progeny vRNPs. Here, we describe the structural basis of the transcription process. The mechanism, which we call the 'processive helical track', is based on the extreme flexibility of the helical part of the vRNP that permits a sliding movement between both antiparallel nucleoprotein-RNA strands, thereby allowing the polymerase to move over the genome while bound to both RNA ends. Accordingly, we demonstrate that blocking this movement leads to inhibition of vRNP transcriptional activity. This mechanism also reveals a critical role of the nucleoprotein in maintaining the double helical structure throughout the copying process to make the RNA template accessible to the polymerase.
Subject(s)
Influenza A virus/physiology , Nucleoproteins/chemistry , Nucleoproteins/metabolism , Ribonucleoproteins/chemistry , Ribonucleoproteins/metabolism , Binding Sites , Influenza A virus/genetics , Models, Molecular , Protein Conformation , Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs , RNA, Viral/genetics , Recombination, Genetic , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Virus Replication/physiologyABSTRACT
Three-dimensional electron microscopy (3DEM) of ice-embedded samples allows the structural analysis of large biological macromolecules close to their native state. Different techniques have been developed during the last forty years to process cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data. Not surprisingly, success in analysis and interpretation is highly correlated with the continuous development of image processing packages. The field has matured to the point where further progress in data and methods sharing depends on an agreement between the packages on how to describe common image processing tasks. Such standardization will facilitate the use of software as well as seamless collaboration, allowing the sharing of rich information between different platforms. Our aim here is to describe the Electron Microscopy eXchange (EMX) initiative, launched at the 2012 Instruct Image Processing Center Developer Workshop, with the intention of developing a first set of standard conventions for the interchange of information for single-particle analysis (EMX version 1.0). These conventions cover the specification of the metadata for micrograph and particle images, including contrast transfer function (CTF) parameters and particle orientations. EMX v1.0 has already been implemented in the Bsoft, EMAN, Xmipp and Scipion image processing packages. It has been and will be used in the CTF and EMDataBank Validation Challenges respectively. It is also being used in EMPIAR, the Electron Microscopy Pilot Image Archive, which stores raw image data related to the 3DEM reconstructions in EMDB.
