Cell: scientists reveal the key structures of Ebola and other RNA viruses

July 6, 2015 / BIOON/ --Ebola virus and rabies virus are two kinds of lethal pathogens of human They belong to the same category of RNA virus, and they often share a common set of strategies to replicate the virus genome in the host, while other similar viruses include Marburg virus, measles virus, mumps virus and vesicular stomatitis virus Researchers found that vesicular stomatitis Virus (VSV) can cause acute diseases in livestock, but it will not cause human disease, but as a model virus, it is harmful to human Recently, in a research paper published in the international journal Cell, researchers from Harvard University School of medicine first revealed the structure of a special protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) at the atomic level by using electron cryomicroscopy technology This special protein, called polymerase protein L, is very important for RNA virus replication Professor Sean Whelan, researcher, said that now we have a clear understanding of how RNA synthesis plays an important role in RNA viruses If we can develop a virus specific target to block the replication of one RNA virus, then revealing the fine structure of polymerase protein may help us develop new therapies Scientists all know how RNA virus infects the host cell The virus can start the process of infecting the host cell by releasing a large protein RNA complex The protein for viral RNA replication is the polymerase protein L, which can guide all the enzyme activities required for RNA synthesis Then the cap structure can be added to the RNA terminal to ensure that it will not be destroyed in the cell So as to ensure the protein translation The antiviral drugs targeting the polymerase molecules are developed based on the understanding of the structure of the polymerase This method of developing antiviral drugs can help to successfully resist the infection of HIV and hepatitis C virus However, for non segment negative RNA viruses, it may be more challenging to reveal the structure of the polymerase protein L Polymerase protein L is a kind of large structure protein However, large structure protein is often difficult to produce and purify, and protein L is also very variable It carries many functional fragments, which are very difficult to separate In this study, the researchers collected data from a variety of virus samples, collected three-dimensional imaging models of the virus's polymerase protein L and studied the image arrangement; then the researchers constructed an atomic model of the polypeptide chain of the VSV virus L protein By building a model of the structure of the VSV virus's polymerase protein L, they could help to understand the structure of the L protein in other similar viruses And functions Finally, the researchers pointed out that the L protein of Ebola virus and rabies virus looks very similar, and only slightly different in the exact characteristics of the reaction amino acids, but we know that the functions and results of these proteins are the same; understanding the fine structure of L protein may help scientists to clarify the importance of RNA synthesis for virus survival The researchers said that in the later stage, they will conduct further research to further clarify the structure of key proteins important to the virus, which will be very important for the later development of new strategies against multiple virus infections.