Molecular biology
VIRION
Enveloped, spherical. Diameter from 110 to 125 nm. Usually rounded but can be filamentous.
GENOME
Segmented Negative-stranded RNA linear genome, L segment is about 6.6 kb and S segment 5.7 kb. Encodes for four proteins.
GENE EXPRESSION
L and S segments are ambisens. The viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase (L) binds to a promoter on each encapsidated segment, and transcribes a messenger RNA. Transcription is terminated by a strong hairpin sequence at the end of each gene. mRNAs are capped, probably by L protein during synthesis.
ENZYMES
- RNA-dependent RNA polymerase [L]
- Cap enzymes?