Structural disorder within the replicative complex of measles virus: functional implications

Virology. 2006 Jan 5;344(1):94-110. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2005.09.025.

Abstract

Measles virus belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family within the Mononegavirales order. Its non-segmented, single stranded, negative sense RNA genome is encapsidated by the nucleoprotein (N) to form a helical nucleocapsid. This ribonucleoproteic complex is the substrate for both transcription and replication. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase binds to the nucleocapsid template via its co-factor, the phosphoprotein (P). In this review, we summarize the main experimental data pointing out the abundance of structural disorder within measles virus N and P. We also describe studies indicating that structural disorder is a widespread property in the replicative complex of Paramyxoviridae and, more generally, of Mononegavirales. The functional implications of structural disorder are also discussed. Finally, we propose a model where the flexibility of the disordered N and P domains allows the formation of a tripartite complex (N degrees-P-L) during replication, followed by the delivery of N monomers to the newly synthesized genomic RNA chain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Measles virus / chemistry*
  • Measles virus / metabolism
  • Measles virus / physiology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mononegavirales / chemistry
  • Nucleocapsid / metabolism
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins / chemistry*
  • Nucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Paramyxovirinae / chemistry
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Species Specificity
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins
  • P protein, Sendai virus
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • nucleoprotein, Measles virus