8Y9J

Structure of the Ebola virus nucleocapsid subunit

Summary for 8Y9J

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb8y9j/pdb
• EMDB information: 39081
• Descriptor: Nucleoprotein, Membrane-associated protein VP24, RNA (12-MER) (3 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: complex, viral protein, viral protein-rna complex, viral protein/rna
• Biological source: Zaire ebolavirus; More
• Total number of polymer chains: 5
• Total formula weight: 226905.65

Authors

Fujita-Fujiharu, Y.,Hu, S.,Hirabayashi, A.,Takamatsu, Y.,Ng, Y.,Houri, K.,Muramoto, Y.,Nakano, M.,Sugita, Y.,Noda, T. (deposition date: 2024-02-06, release date: 2025-01-29, Last modification date: 2025-07-02)

Primary citation

Fujita-Fujiharu, Y.,Hu, S.,Hirabayashi, A.,Takamatsu, Y.,Ng, Y.N.,Houri, K.,Muramoto, Y.,Nakano, M.,Sugita, Y.,Noda, T.
Structural basis for Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly and function regulated by VP24.
Nat Commun, 16:2171-2171, 2025

PubMed Abstract: The Ebola virus, a member of the Filoviridae family, causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Filamentous virions contain a helical nucleocapsid responsible for genome transcription, replication, and packaging into progeny virions. The nucleocapsid consists of a helical nucleoprotein (NP)-viral genomic RNA complex forming the core structure, to which VP24 and VP35 bind externally. Two NPs, each paired with a VP24 molecule, constitute a repeating unit. However, the detailed nucleocapsid structure remains unclear. Here, we determine the nucleocapsid-like structure within virus-like particles at 4.6 Å resolution using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. Mutational analysis identifies specific interactions between the two NPs and two VP24s and demonstrates that each of the two VP24s in different orientations distinctively regulates nucleocapsid assembly, viral RNA synthesis, intracellular transport of the nucleocapsid, and infectious virion production. Our findings highlight the sophisticated mechanisms underlying the assembly and functional regulation of the nucleocapsid and provide insights into antiviral development.

PubMed: 40064872
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57236-4

Experimental method

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (4.6 Å)