VIRION
Non-enveloped, rod shaped about 85-390 nm in length and 20 nm in diameter. The right-handed helix with a pitch of 2.6 nm has an axial repeat of four turns, involving 49 capsid subunits. Each capsid protein covers four nucleotides on the genomic RNA.
GENOME
Segmented, linear, ssRNA(+) genome. The four to five segments are 1.3 to 6.7 kb in size. The genomic RNA are capped, and polyadenylated.
GENE EXPRESSION
Genomic RNAs serve as messenger RNA. Subgenomic RNAs are synthesized during replication for segments 2. Suppression of termination on segment 2 produces the 75k protein. Leaky scanning allows expression of the movement proteins TGB2 and TGB3. Noncoding RNA3 is produced by host Xrn exonuclease which is stopped at the coremin sequence.
Claire Peltier, Elodie Klein, Kamal Hleibieh, Massimiliano D?Alonzo, Philippe Hammann, Salah Bouzoubaa, Claudio Ratti, David Gilmer
J. Gen. Virol. mai 2012; 93: 1093?1102
ENZYMES
- RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [Q65667]
- Polyprotein major protease (Peptidase C36) [Q65667]
- Alpha-type capping [Q65667]
REPLICATION
CYTOPLASMIC
- Virus penetrates into the host cell.
- Uncoating, and release of the viral genomic RNA into the cytoplasm.
- The viral RNA is translated to produce the two proteins necessary for RNA synthesis (replication and transcription).
- Replication takes place in cytoplasmic viral factories. A dsRNA genome is synthesized from the genomic ssRNA(+).
- The dsRNA genome is transcribed/replicated thereby providing viral mRNAs/new ssRNA(+) genomes.
- Expression of the subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs).
- Virus assembly, each segment is encapsidated.
- Viral TGB movement proteins probably mediate virion cell-to-cell transfer.