Structure of the VSV transcription machinery

To transcribe and replicate their genome, mononegaviruses use a sophisticated RNA synthesis machinery made of a polymerase complex and a ribonucleoprotein template. Structural information on how these two components assemble to form a functional transcription complex is lacking. The objective is to decipher the molecular architecture of the transcription complex of vesicular stomatitis virus using cryo-electron tomography. It will provide the first structural information on the full transcription complex of a mononegavirus and new insight into the molecular mechanisms used by these viruses to transcribe their genome. This is an application to the “Solution to Structure” pipeline.

单负链RNA病毒（mononegaviruses）依靠由聚合酶复合物与核糖核蛋白模板构成的精密RNA合成系统完成基因组的转录与复制。目前学界尚缺乏这两种组分如何组装形成功能性转录复合物的相关结构信息。本研究旨在利用冷冻电子断层扫描（cryo-electron tomography）解析水疱性口炎病毒（vesicular stomatitis virus）转录复合物的分子架构。该研究将首次获取单负链RNA病毒完整转录复合物的结构数据，并为理解这类病毒转录基因组的分子机制提供全新视角。本申请隶属于“Solution to Structure”研究管线。