Molecular biology
VIRION

Non-enveloped, rigid helical rods with a helical symmetry. Virion is about 18 nm in diameter, and 300-310 nm in length.
GENOME

Monopartite, linear, ssRNA(+) genome of 6.3-6.5 kb. The 3’-terminus has a tRNA-like structure. The 5’ terminus has a methylated nucleotide cap (m7G5’pppG).
GENE EXPRESSION
Genomic RNAs serve as messenger RNA. Subgenomic RNAs may be synthesized during replication of RNA-3. The small replicase is involved in replication and acts as suppressor of RNA silencing. A ribosomal readthrough on RNA-1 produces the RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase. A movement proteins and the capsid protein are expressed from separate subgenomic mRNAs.
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Virus penetrates into the host cell.
- Uncoating, and release of the viral genomic RNA into the cytoplasm.
- Genomic RNA is translated to produce the two proteins necessary for replication.
- A negative-sense complementary ssRNA is synthesized using the genomic RNA as a template.
- New genomic RNA is synthesized using the negative-sense RNA as a template, as well as subgenomic RNA encoding for MP and CP proteins.
- Assembly of new virus particles.



