Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection
Published on: January 26, 2019
Structural perspective on the formation of ribonucleoprotein complex in negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses
Honggang Zhou1, Yuna Sun, Yu Guo
1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Laboratory of Structural Biology and Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Abstract:
Negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses (NSRVs) possess a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex composed of viral polymerase and genomic RNA surrounded by viral nucleoprotein. The RNP facilitates virus replication, transcription, and assembly. To date, a large body of structural work, through crystallography and electron microscopy (EM) analysis, has been performed to aid understanding the molecular mechanism of RNP formation in NSRVs, and provides great potential for the discovery of antiviral agents targeting viral RNP formation.
Related Concept Videos
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Viral Structure
RNA Structure
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three...
RNA Structure
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...

